TRIMMING THE LAMP.

Ye servants of the Lord,
Each in his office wait,
Observant of his heavenly word,
And watchful at his gate.

Let all your lamps be bright,
And trim the golden flame;
Gird up your loins, as in his sight,
For holy is his name.

Doddridge.

TRIMMING the lamp is a well known Scripture emblem for reviving religion in the heart, and as necessary to maintain a correct public profession of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Among other passages which might be selected to instruct us on this subject, you will read our Lord's address to his disciples, recorded in Luke xii. 35, 36, which well applies to the heart; and also to the parable of the ten virgins, recorded in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew, which describes a public profession of religion. The arguments to enforce both of these are, the sudden expectation of the Bridegroom, and the imperious necessity of being prepared to meet him. In no stage of human life is the duty of trimming the lamp so necessary as in old age, be

cause every day that passes, and every pain that is felt, cry aloud, Behold! the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. From this serious and solemn consideration, I am disposed to offer a few thoughts upon this subject, which I hope may stimulate the reader to trim his lamp, and be more habitually prepared to meet his Lord whenever he shall come.

A lamp is a well known vessel, made of brass or other material, to hold oil, for the purpose of feeding a wick, which, when lighted, gives light to all around. The lamp well describes the heart of man; the oil is the grace of Christ's holy Spirit ; the wick is the spirit of man, or, as Solomon expresses it, the spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord. Proverbs xx. 27. This lamp is of God's own preparation, and first begins to burn when the Lord is pleased to regenerate the soul, and convert the man from the error of his ways, to walk before God in the paths of truth and holy obedience. Therefore the Lord said unto his new called disciples, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. How necessary is it for us to examine, if indeed we possess the lamp of God's own making, else our profession is in vain, and we shall prove like the foolish virgins, when their lamps went out, the door was shut, and they were left in hopeless darkness! No lamp but what in due time needs frequent trimming, and replenishing with fresh oil; and the longer it is used, these operations become the more necessary, just as it is with

us in the last stages of a long life.-I will now describe the process in trimming and replenishing the lamp.

I. The first is inspection or examination, for without this the lamp may imperceptibly burn down, and the light grow dim, if not be ready to expire. This is so common a case in the life of a Christian, that one would think it scarce necessary to cite a proof. You know that David, being off his guard, his lamp was nearly ready to expire. We cannot forget Peter, who, though his lamp once burned exceeding bright, forgetting himself and his character as a disciple, he entered into the high priest's hall, mixed with bad company, and the foul air nearly extinguished his lamp. So pernicious is negligence, cowardice, presumption, and evil communications! Against these the best Christian needs to be upon his guard, and frequently examine his lamp, ever bearing in remembrance, that in proportion to our estimation of the necessity and pleasure of spiritual light, so will be our watchfulness to keep our lamp burning. You know that our Lord frequently admonished his disciples on the imperious necessity of watchfulness, urging as a strong excitement, that they knew not the day, nor the hour, in which the Son of man cometh. And is it not for the want of circumspection and watchfulness, that so many aged Christians neglect their lamp, complain of the darkness of their minds, and the uncomfortableness of their feelings, in prospect of death and eternity?

II. The next thing in trimming the lamp is, to raise the decayed wick, and separate the dead snuff, without which the wick will not receive the touch of fire to make it burn. To perform this operation on the lamps in the ancient tabernacle and temple, there were snuffers of pure gold provided, and it was unlawful for any to use them but the priests in office. Exodus xxxvii. 23. You will easily perceive that what this dead wick is to the lamp, which prevents its burning, so is the earthly mindedness and carnal dispositions of the heart to the spirit of a Christian, which needs to be mortified and separated; for as David said, If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Psalm lxvi. 18. Every one, who by grace, is made a priest unto God, and serveth the Lord Christ, considereth it his duty to watch his lamp, and by the hand of his faith, to perform this spiritual operation. He believes and feels that any sinful disposition like the dead filthy part of the wick, prevents the lamp of his spirit from burning; he knows too that the flame of God's love will not touch this dead wick; it must be separated; and he believes likewise that Christ can guide and strengthen his hand to mortify the flesh, that his spirit may be quickened, and his lamp burn with brightness. For this man practically learns that he is incapable of subduing the least evil propensity, and that without Christ he can do nothing; but with him, he can do all things. Happy, therefore, is he who knows the use and value of these snuffers to trim his lamp, for they are more valuable than the gold that perisheth! It does not

follow that because a man has grown old, and about to leave the world, that therefore he has lost its relish, and has withdrawn his attachment to its concerns, for it too often appears that such a person grows more worldly; nor dare we exempt some aged professors of religion from this undue attachment to the trifling cares of life. But after all, it is the decayed wick of the lamp, it is ashes defiled by smoke, and must be mortified and cut off, or the lamp will give little or no light in the dark passage of mortality. However it may be with a person's external circumstances, there is enough in every Christian's heart which, if indulged, is sufficient to prevent his lamp from shining, and in some more than in others. Unbelief, pride, vainglory, and abundance of evil tempers, neglect of prayers and reading the Scriptures, and yielding to slothful habits; all these are calculated to injure the lamp of the heart, and prevent the light of knowledge, peace, and joy. You have no need for me to remind you, that such a lamp needs frequent trimming and replenishing with fresh oil.

III. No lamp can be sufficiently trimmed without communicating to it fresh oil, and it is of importance for us to know where that kind of oil can be procured, which is necessary to supply the lamp of a Christian's heart. The oil used for the lamps in the tabernacle was pure olive oil beaten, and was an expressive emblem of the spiritual oil which can feed the lamp of the soul; and therefore the grace of the Holy Spirit is called the oil of glad