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XLVII.

St. MATTH. Ch. XXIV. Ver. 3, to 30.

47.

3. As he fat upon the mount of Olives, the difci ples came unto him privately, faying, Tell us, when fball these things be? and what shall be the fign of thy coming, and of the end of the world, &c.

30. Then hall appear the fign of the Son of man in heaven: and then fhall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall fee the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory,

XLVIII

The Parable of the wife and foolish Virgins. TEN Virgins fair one Roof did entertain,

One Half were Wife,the other Fond and Vain: All went to meet the Bridegroom and the Bride, The Wife their Golden Lamps with Oyl supply'd: Th' Imprudent, careless, tho' their Lamps were dry, 'Twas Time enough they thought Recruits to buy: But while the Bridegroom on the Road did stay, Tir'd with their Journey and his long Delay, Inglorious Sleep did all the Ten surprise, And heavy leaden Slumbers feal'd their Eyes; When loe a Mid-night Cry- The Bridegroom's

near,

He comes, he comes, his Harbingers are here:
In hafte they rofe, their Lamps they all prepare,
Those of the Wife shone sparkling, bright and fair.
The Foolish wou'd have borrow'd of the Wife,
But ask in vain, their Oyl wou'd but fuffice:
Arrives the Bridegroom while they went for more,
His ready Guests receives, and shuts the Door;
The other came at length, but came too late,
And mourn in mid-night Shades their own unhappy

Fate.

XLVIII.

St. MATTH. Chap. XXV. Ver. 1,

to 12.

1

48

1. Then fhall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

2. And five of them were wife, and five were foolish.

3. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oyl with them:

4. But the wife took oyl in their vessels with their lamps, &c.

XLIX.

The Talents entrusted with the faithful and flothful Servants.

A Lord e're he to diftant Regions goes,

Among his Servants wou'd his Goods dispose;
Five Talents one, the fecond two receives,
A fingle Talent to the last he gives.

The Two, fo well in Trade the Stock he lent
Improv'd, they gain'd their Mafter Cent. per Cent.
The Third with lazy Stubbornefs and Pride,
His useless Talent in the Ground did hide:
The Lord return'd, and ftrict Enquiry made,
What each had gain'd by Barter and by Trade:
The faithful Servants who improv'd their Store,
He praises, honours, and intrusts with more ;
But bids the barren Talent take agen,
And give to him who rais'd his Five to Ten.
Th' ungrateful unimproving Servant's thrown
In Dungeons deep, where Light and Joy's un-
known;

Where folid Wo and Death and Darkness reign,
And Wretches gnash their Teeth and gnaw their
Tongues for pain.

XLIX.

St. MATTH Chap. XXV. Ver. 15, 16, 17, 18.

15. To one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his ability, and ftraitway took his journey.

16. Then be that had received the five talents, ment and traded with the fame, and made them other five talents.

17. And likewife he that had received two, he alfo gained other two.

18. But he that had received one, went and diggod in the earth, and kid his lord's money.

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