e encouraging message, "I will keep thee out of the hour of
trial which is to come upon all the earth." Philadelphia assuredly
originates with the midnight cry. The two are inseparably connected.

But to return to the parable of the Lord. We notice that the midnight
cry discovers the true condition of the wise and the foolish. They all
arose and trimmed their lamps. The message has an effect upon the
entire Christian profession. Of the wise we read but little, but the
foolish now discover that they have no oil and further demonstrate
their foolishness by appealing to the wise to give them oil. The wise
in turn direct them to go to those who sell and buy for themselves.
The words have occasioned much controversy.

It is not at all necessary that in a parable everything must have a
definite meaning. It shows simply the utter blindness of these foolish
one in looking to human beings for that which they lacked. The oil,
the Holy Spirit, can be obtained only from Him, who gives without money
and without price. But their foolishness just consisted in this very
thing that they came not to Him, who is so willing to give. One can
imagine the haste and activity of these foolish virgins in running here
and there trying to get oil, to have burning lamps to meet the
Bridegroom. It is exactly that which has happened since the midnight
cry has been given and which we still witness about us. There is a
great deal of religious activity, an immense amount of religious
fervor, all kinds of endeavor and service, trying to do this and
attempting to be better and do better. The so-called religious world
feels that there is something in the air. Something is troubling them
and yet they refuse to go to Him who alone can give and whose Grace
alone can save and make ready. This is, alas, the sad condition of a
great part of Christendom to-day. They hear the midnight cry and yet
refuse to go to Him for oil.

But the wise arose and trimmed their lamps. They had the oil and they
responded to the message, "Behold the Bridegroom! go ye forth to meet
Him." It is a significant fact that the blessed Hope faithfully
preached is causing separation between the true and the false. That is
exactly why we must preach it and preach it more faithfully. And this
continues. It has continued for a good many years, longer than those
who were used by the Holy Spirit in the recovery of the blessed Hope,
anticipated. The infinite patience of t