Now every one would perceive the ab-
surdity of sajdng, " one house stood firm,
that none might despair; and one was
washed away, that none might presume ;"
as if the different foundations on which
they were built did not account for the
difference of their fates.
There are, however, as I have said,
many persons, who do not venture to ex-
press confidence as to the eflScacy of a
death-bed-repentance, who yet insist much
on the importance, in all cases, of what is
called, preparation for death; and who
in their views on that subject do not avail
themselves of the instruction they might
derive from our Lord's own discourses.
One of the most important for the pre-
sent purpose is the parable of the Ten
Virgins ; which therefore I propose to ex-
plain to you, and to comment on at some
length in the concluding Lecture.
Note. — In the former editions I did not notice the
strange notion (as to me it seems) of some Commenta-
tors, who represent the penitent malefactor as having at
first joined his companion in reviling Jesus. But hav-
ing since found that some sensible persons have hastilj
and inconsiderately adopted that notion, I have thought
it worth while briefly to advert to it



L. Xr.] A CHRISTIAN DEPARTURE. 337

Those who have maintained this theory have done so
for the sake of reconciling (as they suppose) Luke*s ac-
count with those of Matthew and Mark, who use the
plural number ; speaking of Jesus being reviled by the
malefactors who were crucified with Him.
