the better-tended lamps of the faithful. By entering
the guest-chamber of Truth, and beholding the bridal
of Life and Love, they would be wedded to a higher [10]
understanding of God. Each moment's fair expect-
ancy was to behold the bridegroom, the One “altogether
lovely.”
It was midnight: darkness profound brooded over
earth's lazy sleepers. With no oil in their lamps, no [15]
spiritual illumination to look upon him whom they had
pierced, they heard the shout, “The bridegroom cometh!”