Notes of the Parables of Our Lord

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1862 edition. Excerpt: ...12.) "What door?" exclaims the author of an ancient homily on this parable, f " That which now is open to them coming from the east and from the west, that they may sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven, --that Door which saith, Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. Behold how it is now open, which shall then be closed for evermore. Murderers come, and they are admitted, --publicans and harlots come, and they are received, --unclean and adulterers and robbers, and whosoever is of this kind, come, and the open door doth not deny itself to them, for Christ, the Door, is infinite to pardon, reaching beyond every degree and every amount of wickedness. But then what saith he? The door is shut. No one's penitence, --no one's prayer, --no one's groaning shall any more be admitted. That door is shut, which received Aaron after his idolatry, --which admitted David after his adultery--after his homicide, which not only did not repel Peter after his threefold denial, but delivered its keys to be guarded by him." (See Luke xvi. 26.) The door once shut, " aftemoards came the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us" not that they have now found the oil, but having sought it in vain, they come looking for mercy, when now it is the time of judgment.% In the title "Lord" by which they address the bridegroom, they claim to stand in a near and intimate relation to him; as in the "Lord, Lord" twice repeated, is an evidence of the earnestness with which they now claim admission; some say, also of their vain confidence; but perhaps rather of the misgiving which already possesses them, lest they should be excluded from the nuptial feast, lest it be now to late, lest the needful conditions be found unfulfilled on their...