e wise took oil.' By the oil he signifieth the acquiring
of good works. 'And at midnight,' he saith, 'there was a cry made,
"Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him."' By midnight he
denoteth the uncertainty of that time. Then all those virgins arose.
'They that were ready went forth to meet the bridegroom and went in
with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.' But they that were
un-ready (whom rightly he calleth foolish), seeing that their lamps
were going out, went forth to buy oil. Afterward they drew nigh, the
door being now shut, and cried, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us.' But
he answered and said, 'Verily I say unto you, I know you not.'
Wherefore from all this it is manifest that there is a requital not
only for overt acts, but also for words and even secret thoughts; for
the Saviour said, 'I say unto you, that for every idle word that men
shall speak they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement.'
And again he saith, 'But the very hairs of your head are numbered,' by
the hairs meaning the smallest and slightest phantasy or thought. And
in harmony herewith is the teaching of blessed Paul, 'For the word of
God,' saith he, 'is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged
sword, and piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not
manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and laid bare unto the
eyes of him with whom we have to do."

"These things also were proclaimed with wondrous clearness by the
prophets of old time, illumined by the grace of the Spirit. For Esay
saith, 'I know their works and their thoughts,' and will repay them.
'Behold, I come to gather all nations and all tongues; and they shall
come and see my glory. And the heaven shall be new, and the earth,
which I make before me. And all flesh shall come to worship before me,
saith the Lord. And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses
of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not
die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be a
spectacle unto all flesh." And again he saith concerning that day,
"And the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll, and all the
stars shall fall down as leaves from the vine. For behold, the day of
the Lord cometh, cruel with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the whole
world desolate and