The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Collection of sermons · Sermon 1
SERMON I. On Matth. 25. from Ver. 1, to 13.
1. Then ſhall 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 wiſe, and five were fooliſh.
3. They that were fooliſh, took their Lamps, and took no Oil with them.
4. But the wiſe took Oil in their Veſſels, with their Lamps.
5. While the Bridegroom tarried, they all ſlumbered and ſlept.
6. And at midnight there was a Cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him.
7. Then all thoſe Virgins aroſe, and trimmed their Lamps.
8. And the fooliſh ſaid unto the wiſe, Give us of your Oil, for our Lamps are gone out.
9. But the wiſe anſwered, ſaying, Not ſo; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that ſell, and buy for your ſelves.
10. And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and they that were ready, went in with him to the Marriage, and the door was ſhut.
11. Afterward came alſo the other Virgins, ſaying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12. But he anſwered, and ſaid, Verily I ſay unto you, I know you not.
13. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.
I Have often had it in my Thoughts and Deſires, to open this Great Parable of the Kingdom to you: Wherein (as Chriſt ſaith) he hath declared things, that had been kept ſecret from the very Foundation of the World.
But, indeed, I fear an Inability to open this Parable, according to the Greateſt Importance and Senſe of it.
I have yet, by the Aſſiſtance of God, and through the Great Author of it, undertaken to offer to you the utmoſt of Light that I can, from ſo Rich a Portion of Scripture; But ſtill ſaying, Who is ſufficient for theſe things? I know, it contains in it ſelf a Point of the Greateſt Concernment to every one of us: And the Greater, and the Fairer our Profeſſion of Chriſtianity is, the Greater is our Obligation to conſider it. For, you ſee, here is nothing in the Text but a Virgin-State; and that imports the Purity of a Profeſſion; the Higheſt and the Pureſt Profeſſion of Chriſt and of his Name. And yet, as you may eaſily obſerve, what a great Danger and Hazard there is in the Pureſt Profeſſion, that we ſhould come ſhort of the Great End. For why were Five of theſe Virgins ſhut for ever out of the Glory and Happineſs of the End?
The Point that I aim at to diſcourſe upon, I'll give you in the General: And then ſhew you, in every Particular, how the Parable Anſwers to it; And how Great the Wiſdom of Chriſt is. He ſpake indeed (as it is ſaid in the Goſpel) as never man ſpake. No meer Created Man was ever able to find out ſuch Lively Images and Repreſentations of Things as he did; and as he hath given us the Inſtance and Example of, in this very Parable. I ſay therefore, here is the main Point that I propoſe to you:
That even the Higheſt, and moſt Excellent Profeſſors of Chriſtianity, have great need, and an Obligation lying upon them, to take care, that while they make ſo excellent a Profeſſion, they have that, that will bear out, and will laſt in that State of the Kingdom of Chriſt; and of the Glory of it; I ſay, the Higheſt and Pureſt Profeſſors.
Suppoſe any of us ſay, We are not as Heathens; and we are not as Antichriſtians; and we are not as the Looſer and General Profeſſors of Chriſtianity are: But we are Virgins; we are of the Pureſt, and of the moſt Refined Profeſſion of Chriſtianity.
Our Lord here allows it to us; we may be ſo, and yet, notwithſtanding this; we are to be under this ſevere Caution, That we are not found fooliſh Virgins, that have not the Truth and Power of Chriſtianity, or only a Profeſſion that will go out, as a Lamp extinguiſhed and quenched, and caſt out into utter Darkneſs, when it comes to the ſtricteſt and higheſt Examination.
Now this our Saviour hath comprized under Three Generals, that you may obſerve in this Parable, which I will at this time, (firſt of all, but in groſs, and in ſhort) deliver to you; and then, Endeavour, by the Aſſiſtance of God, to be more Exact upon the Particulars of it.
Firſt, Therefore, that we may underſtand it, we are to obſerve, That this Parable repreſents the Kingdom of Heaven; and, the Kingdom of Heaven is to be underſtood, Firſt, In the opening of it, in the Preaching of the Goſpel, and in the drawing of the Minds and Hearts of thoſe that hear it, unto it. That's the firſt Notion of the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Kingdom of Heaven ſhall be likened unto Ten Virgins, which took their Lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom.
This ſpeaks the whole State of the Goſpel, from that Fulneſs of Time, as I have Stiled it, from the Apoſtle Paul, to the Fulneſs of Times, or of All Times; from the time of the Death and Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt, from that time, 'till the Bridegroom himſelf comes. The Kingdom of Heaven, It is the Preaching of the Goſpel daily and continually, to all thoſe to whom it is offered and tendred. And as to this, He that hath an Ear to hear, let him hear.
Secondly, This Kingdom of Heaven, it is to be conſidered, As it ſhall open it ſelf in the Glory of the Appearance of Jeſus Chriſt. For, the Kingdom of Heaven doth not loſe it ſelf, when the Preaching of the Goſpel is at an end, and when that, which we count the Day of Judgment, comes; but it paſſes then into another State, into its Glory, and into its viſible Appearance: It comes then into the higheſt Celebration of the Nuptials, and of the Wedding.
For, they went forth to meet the Bridegtoom. And it is ſaid, That the Bridegroom came, and they that were ready, went in with him into the Wedding, and the Door was ſhut. So the Kingdom of Heaven laſts from that Preaching of the Goſpel, from the Death and Reſurrection of Chriſt, unto the Glory of the Kingdom, in the Appearance of Chriſt, and of all his Saints with him. Which (as I ſay, and as you ſhall after hear) is the higheſt Celebration of the Wedding, and of the Nuptials.
The Second Head of Diſcourſe on this Parable, in which our Lord hath preſented this great Truth to us, is the Repreſentation of thoſe that make Profeſſion of him, in the pureſt, and in the moſt refined way; and therefore they are all called Virgins: Even thoſe that had not Oil in their Lamps; yet ſtill they are called Virgins. And thoſe that were not only the wiſe, but the fooliſh; ſtill they are called Virgins. And what is the Reaſon of this? but that Chriſt might preſs the harder and cloſer upon every one of our Conſciences.
If you ſay (and you know we are ready to value and rate our ſelves by it) we have a better Profeſſion, and a better Worſhip; and we do not as others do, whoſe way, and whoſe worſhip, and whoſe profeſſion we condemn; but we are as Virgins in our Worſhip. Therefore I ſay, Chriſt hath given us the whole Frame of the Doctrine, in a Parable of Virgins; in a Repreſentation of a Virgin-ſtate. Indeed, in ſome places of Scripture, this Metaphor, or Reſemblance of a Virgin, imports the Truth, and the power of Grace; and where there is no want of all that Excellency of Chriſtianity, that is neceſſary to the Perfection, and to the Glory of it, in this preſent State, but here it is otherwiſe; and it is to this very purpoſe, that none of us might reſt in an outward Profeſſion. And therefore we may obſerve the ſeveral particulars under this Virginſtate, that our Lord hath Repreſented.
Firſt of all, That Five were Wiſe, and Five were Fooliſh. And then,
In the Second Place, Wherein the Wiſdom of the one, and Folly of the other conſiſted. The Wiſdom was, in taking Oil in the Veſſel, with their Lamps: The Folly was, in taking no Oil with them, but only in their Lamps; but thinking to make a ſhift (as we ſay) with what was in the Profeſſion.
In the Third Place, We have the Conſideration of their Behaviour, or of their State, in the Time between the Preaching of the Goſpel firſt, and then, the Glory of the Nuptials. While the Bridegroom tarried, they all ſlumbred and ſlept.
I muſt indeed let you know, That I Interpret this otherwiſe, than the Generality of thoſe that have Spoken or Written upon it, have done. For this Slumbring and Sleeping, I do not look upon as the ſame; that they were in a Spiritual Slumber, not Sleep; but I look upon it only as ſuitable to the Parable, to be a Repreſentation of the dying of thoſe that make Profeſſion of Chriſtianity; that is, throughout the Time, that great Space of Time between thoſe two Points, viz. the fulneſs of Time, and the fulneſs of all Times. There are many gone out of the World, many of thoſe that were Virgins in their Profeſſion; and they then Slumbred; then Slept; that is, they have died, and gone out of the World, in this State of Profeſſion.
Now, the Reaſon that I give, why I ſhould ſo Interpretet, is this; Becauſe it is very plain, by what our Saviour ſpeaks, That the wiſe Virgins did never Spiritually Sleep; they were not in a Spiritual Sleep; that is, It was not the Character of their State.
And therefore I look upon it only thus, as Solomon ſaith, They had come and gone from the place of Judgment. So I ſay, they had come, and gone out of the State of the World, and the Profeſſion of Chriſtianity; and they have entred into a State, which to us that are here in the World, looks like Mid-Night Sleeping. As now, if we ſpeak of the Apoſtles that have died; they have (as it were) deeply Slept, ever ſince the time that they went out of the World. And ſo the Saints that we have known here in the World; we may ſay as the Scripture doth, They fell aſleep; and there has been a Slumber upon them as to their Profeſſion; they have not manifeſted that LIFE and POWER of Chriſtianity. And then in the Fourth Place; here's the Caſe, and the State of theſe Virgins, upon the coming of the Bridegroom. At Midnight there was a Cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh: Go ye forth to meet him.
And that I look upon, to be intended of the Reſurrection. That voice of the Son of God; That they that are in the Graves ſhall hear; and they that hear ſhall live, and they ſhall come forth out of their Graves. The wiſe and the fooliſh Virgins, they die alike, and they come forth out of their Graves; that is, both the one and the other Riſe again, and appear before Chriſt.
In the Fifth Place; as ſoon as the Bodies, and Souls or Spirits, are Re-united; immediately, all thoſe that are raiſed, go to the Trimming of their Lamps; that is, they immediately Reflect upon what they had been doing here in the World; how they had Lived, what they had Acted; how they had anſwered their Profeſſion. They ariſe, and Trim their Lamps; they come with that Profeſſion of Chriſtianity they have made.
And that's the Second Head of Diſcourſe in this Parable. And then,
The Third is, the Reſult, Iſſue, and Event of all this. What was the different State then, of the Wiſe, and of the Fooliſh? As ſoon as ever the Fooliſh Virgins came to tryal of their Lamps; immediately they found a want of Oil. They found a want of that Power, of that Glory, of that Life of Chriſtianity, that ſhould bear them up in the Time of the Wedding, of the Glory of the Kingdom of Chriſt. And therefore, that you may underſtand this Parable, you muſt conſider, That amongſt thoſe Eaſtern Nations, their great Solemnities were in the Night; their great Nuptial Feaſts, and their great Entertainments; they were in the Night: And ſo, every one did (as it were) bring their Lamps. Here is the curious Colour and Art of the Parable, or the Picture; every Perſon that came to thoſe Night-Entertainments? which were their greateſt; As I tell you, They brought with them, a Lamp, a Light to ſtand by them; and that ſo the Glory of the Feaſt, or of the Entertainment, might ariſe from thoſe many Lights that were ſhining together, that every one brought.
Now, therefore (ſaith Chriſt) the Fooliſh Virgins, came with their Lamps, and they had no Oil; they had no Oil to bear out the Glory of the Feaſt, the Glory of the Wedding, of that great Nuptial, the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb, as it is called, Rev. 19.
So, as ſoon as ever they found the want of Oil, they were in an Amazement, they were immediately upon the earneſt purſuit and care of the ſupply of that want. When they found, we ſhall never be able to bear out with the Glory of the Wedding, immediately they ſay to the Wiſe, Give us of your Oil. But the Wiſe ſaid unto them, Not ſo, leſt there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that ſell, and buy for your ſelves. Go, and provide it; go, and take care for it. This is ſpoken only, to fill up the Parable; not that the thing could be ſo; but only to repreſent the thing as lively as might be. And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came. And they that were ready, went in with him to the Marriage, and the Door was ſhut; preſently ſhut. That is, they went into the great Hall, to the great Room of Entertainment, to the Palace of the Bridegroom: They went in, that were ready; and the Door was preſently ſhut. If any one was not ready; if they had not Oil in their Lamps, the Door was preſently ſhut. If they had not ſuch a Proviſion, as would bear out that Entertainment, and went to provide, they were preſently ſhut out. And here,
In the laſt place, That is the great Uſe and Application that Chriſt makes of it: Watch therefore; for ye know neither the Day nor the Hour when the Son of Man cometh. Wherein our Saviour ſtill bears out, according to the Nature of the Type, and to fill up all the Parts of it, and all the Colours of the Picture
For, the meaning is no more than this;
Look well to this, That you have a Proviſion, a Treaſure of Grace, that will laſt out the whole Time of the Wedding-Solemnity: For, if you have not, you will not be able to make a Proviſion then; you will be as thoſe that are unready.
Now, that this is the meaning of Watching, is very plain from hence; becauſe the Virgins that had Oil in their Lamps, and in their Veſſels too; they Slumbred and Slept, yet they went immediately into the Wedding.
But all thoſe that had only Oil in their Lamps, and not in their veſſels, they were ſhut out; there was no poſſibility of making Proviſion for themſelves at that time.
From all which particulars then, that I have given you at this Time but the Generals of, I collect,
Let it be our care, let us ſeriouſly look to it, that we make ſuch a proviſion now, that may laſt out that whole State; that is, That we have ſuch Grace, as will bear out the Tryal of that Day, and that Time.
That's the main Importance of this ſo great Parable, ſo excellent Parable; that every one of us ſhould look to it, That we have ſuch Treaſure, ſuch real Riches of Grace in the Blood of Jeſus, and in the power of his Death and Reſurrection upon us, that will comport with that great Solemnity of the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt. And let us not ſay among all the Profeſſions and Ways that there are in the VVorld, we have choſen out what we think the beſt, and the pureſt: It is not enough, that we are Virgins in our Profeſſion, but we muſt have this rich Treaſure, this real Treaſure of Grace in our Hearts. This, I ſay, is the main Importance of this great Parable, and it Iſſues into this, That we ſhould take heed of pleaſing our ſelves in a Profeſſion; and that we ſhould be under the power of this Apprehenſion, That the moſt excellent Profeſſion that there is in the World, in the whole Chriſtian Name, whatever it is that ſhall have the Precedency above any other; yet if our Hearts are not Enriched with the true Grace of God, and of Jeſus Chriſt, we do not know the Truth, as it is in Chriſt effectually. And therefore indeed, there is not any place of Scripture that Imports a greater Severity, or makes more neceſſary tryal and ſearch into our State and Condition, than this very Parable does. For when it gives a Repreſentation of the pureſt State that can be given; that is, to call all Virgins; and yet that ſome of theſe are ſhut out for ever, from the Glory of the Kingdom of Chriſt; How ſhould it (as our Saviour ſpeaks in a like Parable) engage us to ſtrive to enter in at the strait Gate? For many ſhall ſeek to enter in, and ſhall not be able. Many of the Children of the Kingdom ſhall be thruſt out; as Chriſt ſpeaks in another place. This is the great care therefore that ſhould lie upon us, to ſecure the inward part, the vital part, the true Power, the true Light of Chriſtianity, that ſhall never be as a Lamp put out in obſcure Darkneſs. If you look upon the 14 Revel. you may ſee what a high Importance this very Word, or Repreſentation of Virgins hath; ſaith the Spirit of God there, concerning thoſe that were in the purity of Chriſtian Religion; Theſe (ſaith he) are VIRGINS, and have not defiled themſelves with Women, as other Profeſſors of the Name of Chriſt had; with the Impurity that others were defiled with. For they are Virgins, and they follow the Lamb whitherſoever he goeth.
So that though this be ſo great a Repreſentation of the purity of Chriſtian Religion; yet you ſee here in this Parable, our Saviour hath taken this very Repreſentation to ſet forth the State, that yet ſhall miſcarry in the End, to Eternity. And ſo the Apoſtle Paul, 2 Cor. 11. 2. I am Jealous over you with a godly Jealouſie; for I have eſpouſed you to one Husband, that I may preſent you as a chaſt Virgin to Chriſt.
You ſee ſometimes, this Repreſentation, Metaphor, or Emblem of a Virgin is made uſe of, to ſpeak the higheſt and trueſt Purity. And yet, our Lord doth (as it were) abaſe and humble it here, in ſpeaking of the Fooliſh Virgins; that he might gain his main point and end: That is, to tell us, The moſt excellent Profeſſion, let it be what it will, it will not avail us, if there be not the truth and power of Chriſtianity in it.
I ſhall therefore, according to the particulars I have laid down to you, endeavour to open this great Point all along, by thoſe lively Reſemblances, that our Lord hath given us in this Parable.
In the firſt place, I ſhall conſider the State of the Goſpel, as it is here called the Kingdom; in its ſetting out, from the Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt, 'till it attains that great Point of Glory, its manifeſtation in the viſible Appearance of our Lord Jeſus: It is all the while, the Kingdom of Heaven. Then ſhall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened.
So as I have Repreſented to you, from Gal. 4. and Epheſ. 1. Here's the whole State, or Time of the Goſpel of Jeſus Chriſt, and of all the courſe and motion it runs: It begins in the preaching of the Goſpel, and it ends in the Glory of it, Gal. 4. 4. I look upon it to be a great Foundation of all that Diſcourſe, that I have endeavoured to Inſtruct you by, concerning the Kingdom of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. But when the fulneſs of time was come, God ſent forth his Son made of a woman, made under the Law. The firſt Appearance of Chriſt, it is called the Fulneſs of Time; that's the beginning point of it. And then, there's the Recapitulation, the gathering of all things again into Chriſt; and that is, as the Apoſtle tells us, Eph. 1. 10. In the diſpenſation of the fulneſs of Times, he will gather together in one, all things in Chriſt, both which are in Heaven, and which are in Earth, even in him. In the Fulneſs of Time, Chriſt came to bear the ſins of many▪ In the fulneſs of Times, he gathers all into himſelf. So that the Kingdom of Heaven, it hath its beginning in the firſt Appearance of Chriſt; and it hath its uttermoſt Glory in the gathering together in one all things into Chriſt. And then it is delivered up into the Kingdom of Eternity. We ſhould therefore apprehend our ſelves, even now under the preaching of the Goſpel, that we are under the motion of the Kingdom of Heaven; here's the beginning of it. And then we ſhould look to our ſelves, and draw All to the Iſſue, and laſt Reſult. For, the Kingdom of Heaven laſts till that great Solemnity of the Marriage-Supper of the Lamb; it laſts to that very time, and ſo it continues till the Kingdom is delivered up to God, all in all.
You ſhall find as ſoon as ever Chriſt came to be Preached, and to be declared, immediately there is the uſe of this very Phraſe, The Kingdom of Heaven, Mat. 3, 2. John the Baptiſt went out, and ſaid, Repent ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. And ſo it is ſaid of Chriſt; that He alſo went forth to Preach in the very ſame manner; Repent (ſaith he) for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, Mat. 4. 17. So that here is the whole State of the Kingdom of Heaven, it begins at the Preaching of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; and it goes on to the Perfection, and to the Glory of the Kingdom.
Let us therefore obſerve what is the motion of the Goſpel upon our Hearts; becauſe it is the Kingdom of Heaven. And we ſhould look to the Power, and to the mighty Influences that it hath upon our Souls in that very regard; becauſe that it is the Kingdom of Heaven in its firſt beginnings, and in its firſt Preparations, till it comes into the Glory of it ſelf.
I ſhall therefore Endeavour at this time, to Diſcourſe this Point to you, concerning this Power of the Goſpel, as it is the Kingdom; and Apply it, by way of ſtrong Reflection upon our own Hearts; And that we may conſider what our own State and Condition is, in relation to it.
Firſt therefore, The Kingdom of Heaven is the offer of the Great Salvation of Jeſus Chriſt unto Souls; It is the Offer of that great State that ſhall be hereafter. There is a preſent Offer of it to us now. The Goſpel comes to this very purpoſe, to invite us, by the preſent Preaching, and by the outward Publication and Adminiſtration of it: It comes to Invite us to that great Kingdom, that is called, The Kingdom of Heaven. The Goſpel repreſents it ſelf now to us, with all the earneſtneſs, and Wooing-Language▪ that we may be drawn in unto Jeſus Chriſt. This is the firſt thing wherein it is called, and worthy to be called, The Kingdom of Heaven; becauſe it comes with the offer of Heaven, and with the offer of Life and Grace unto every Soul. Heaven is bowed down; God rends the Heavens, and comes down to us in the preaching of the Goſpel. It is called therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven taken from one, and given to another. The Kingdom of Heaven ſhall be taken from you, and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits of it, Mat. 2. 43. Becauſe this Kingdom makes an offer of Life, and an offer of Grace to every Soul. It is that very thing that the Apoſtle ſpeaks of, in 2 Cor. 5. 19. God was in Chriſt, reconciling the World unto himſelf; and not imputing to them their Treſpaſſes. Wherefore (ſaith he) we are Ambaſſadors for Chriſt, (ver. 20.) as though God did beſeech you by us, we pray you in Chriſt's stead, be ye reconciled to God. God is pleaſed to make an offer to every one that hears of the Kingdom of Heaven: He bows the Heaven (as I ſaid) down to you, and to you, and to every one of us that are under the preaching of his Goſpel. The Kingdom of Heaven ſtoops down, it condeſcends it ſelf to make a gracious Offer to every one that hears it this Day. If any one will, let him come and take the water of life freely: As it is ſaid, Rev. 22. 17. If any one hath a Mind, and a Deſire to the Kingdom of Heaven, when it is thus offered. Chriſt therefore laid the Foundation of it in his own Coming.
He begins it by John the Baptiſt, that was to prepare his way, and he carried it on by himſelf. And ſtill, by one Series and Courſe of his Servants after another, he hath taken care, that in one part of the World, or other, ever ſince the Reſurrection of Chriſt, there hath been an offer of this Kingdom of Heaven all along, to the Sons of Men, in the publick Preaching of the Goſpel. Indeed, I know, the Wiſdom, and Glory, and Soveraignty of God hath greatly manifeſted it ſelf; in that there are many Nations at this very Day, that have not the Kingdom of Heaven Preached to them. And even amongſt our ſelves, what variety there is in the Diſpenſation of this Word of▪ the Kingdom unto us? As our Saviour calls it, The Word of the Kingdom, Matth. 13. 19. When any one heareth the Word of the Kingdom. So that's the firſt Notion that Scripture gives us of the Kingdom of Heaven; it is in the offer of Life, and Grace, and Salvation by Jeſus Chriſt, in the publick Preaching of the Goſpel. Now thus indeed, Men may ſeem (as it were) at their choice, and at their Election, whether they will accept the Kingdom of Heaven, or not, whether any one will open their Ears, and hear.
How many ſay, If this be the Kingdom of Heaven; we do not at all deſire it? They turn their Backs upon it, and refuſe, ſlight, and contemn it; becauſe it is not with Majeſty enough (as they think) and it does not bring preſent Glory and Advantage enough.
It therefore tells us, It is not the preſent State, it is not the preſent Condition. We are ready to ſay, What does it bring us? And where is the Power and Glory it brings along with it now?
This therefore now we are Taught, That the Kingdom of Heaven is only now, by way of Doctrine; by way of Offer; by way of gracious Propoſal to the Souls of Men; it does not yet come in its Majeſty, Glory, and in its Power. But as I ſhall ſhew you, in the third Particular, The Kingdom of Heaven never reſts, till it comes in its Glory, and in its Majeſty.
This therefore is the firſt Expreſſion of it; the preaching of the Goſpel is the Kingdom of Heaven; the Sounding of Chriſt and Salvation in your Ears, telling you of an Everlaſting State and Condition of Happineſs, or Miſery, if you refuſe. This is the lifting up of many, as our Saviour ſpeaks, which is a very lively Conſideration upon the Point that I am now upon. Mat. 11. 20. He began to upbraid the Cities, wherein his mighty Works had been done; becauſe they repented not. Wo unto thee Chorazin, wo unto thee Bethſaida; for if the mighty works which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, in ſackcloth and aſhes. But I ſay unto you, It ſhall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the Day of Judgment, than for you. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, ſhalt be brought down to Hell; for if the mighty Works which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I ſay unto you, it ſhall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom, than for thee. Here you ſee, we have the preaching of the Goſpel, and the offer of Chriſt; this is the Kingdom of Heaven bowing, and ſtooping to you; making an offer of it ſelf freely to you, and (as we ſay) courting the Acceptance of Souls: We ſhould look upon it as ſo: not for the worthineſs of thoſe that Speak, or for the Ability with which they ſpeak; but the Source of all is, this excellent Doctrine of the Goſpel, that we have in the Word of God. And indeed, If we had not a Tongue to ſpeak it, or Ears to hear it; yet to behold the mighty Government of God and Chriſt, the evil of Sin, and the excellency of Grace, and of the Spirit of God, and of the Salvation of Chriſt, throughout; it is to put you into Heaven, to introduce you into Heaven, even while you are here upon Earth. Do not think that it is a ſmall thing, that theſe excellent Promiſes, theſe excellent Doctrines, theſe excellent Exhortations and Counſels are Adminiſtred unto you: For, it is even Heaven upon Earth, this very Word of God; and, for the preaching of it, that is only a further Ordination of God; that every one may have it ſpoken unto them, and be perſuaded, In ſeaſon, and out of ſeaſon; and that there might be a more forcible Application upon the Souls of Men. But if we have but the Word of God (this Scripture) lying in our Houſes, we have the Kingdom of Heaven (I may ſay) lying in our Houſes, in this Senſe I am now ſpeakjng of it to you: You have it, becauſe you have this excellent Doctrine of Chriſt: And there are Scriptures; there are many Scriptures, that are ſo exceeding clear and plain, that he may run that reads. No one that hath but this Book of God, either that he Reads, or, that is ordinarily read to him; but he may ſay, I am exalted herein to Heaven; becauſe I have ſuch an excellent Scripture, ſuch an excellent Goſpel continually before me.
So the very Sound of it, the very Motion of it in the World; it is the great Happineſs of thoſe parts of the World that have it. And we have great Reaſon to ſay, in this place, in this City, in this Nation; and eſpecially, wherever God lights up a clearer Taper and Torch of his Goſpel; we have Reaſon to ſay, That Heaven is come down to us; and that we can go when we pleaſe, and Read one of the excellent Sermous and Diſcourſes of our Lord Jeſus in the Goſpel: That we can go to the Epiſtles, and read thoſe admirable Things that the Spirit of God hath given out by the Apoſtle Paul, James, and John. Theſe things, you do not Apprehend the great Advantage of them.
We talk of Heaven, and we would be glad to go to Heaven; and Heaven is the great Burden of all our wiſhes, and all our hopes. Behold (ſaith Chriſt) the Kingdom of Heaven is here among us; the Truth of his Word lying open to us.
How dreadful therefore will even that Duſt that gathers upon our Bibles, from day to day be! I ſay what a Teſtimony will it be! And, as our Saviour ſaith to thoſe that he ſent out to Preach his Goſpel; It ſhall be more tolerable (ſaith he) for Sodom and Gomorrah, than for thoſe that refuſe it. And the very dust of your feet (ſaith he) when you depart out of that City, ſhake off, as a witneſs against them, Mat. 10. 14. So the very duſt of our Bibles will riſe up in Judgment againſt us; becauſe, when God hath opened the Windows of Heaven to us in it; we have refuſed, and ſcorned, and deſpiſed, and (to Speak in our ordinary Language) counted it as a Book out of date, becauſe we have had it ſo long. O! If you did but know what a value the Martyrs, in the Days of Queen Mary, ſet upon it, when the Light was but juſt ſprung out; what a value did they put upon the Scriptures! And indeed, if God were cutting us ſhort, and a Famine of his Word coming upon us; we ſhould then ſay, what a great Treaſure is God taking from us! And yet how many Hours do we paſs in the Day, and not read of Chriſt, and of the Kingdom of Heaven, that is ſo pourtrayed and explained in the Goſpel to us?
There is a Time that is ſet out to us by Prophecy; and there's great Reaſon to hope that it is very near, when this Kingdom of Heaven, in the Everlaſting Goſpel, ſhall Ride (as it were) Circuit, or rather, at one time be heard from the midſt of Heaven, throughout the whole Earth, Rev. 14. 6. I ſaw an Angel fly through the midſt of Heaven, having the Everlaſting Goſpel to Preach unto them that dwell on the Earth, and to every Kindred, and Tongue, and People. This Everlaſting Goſpel of the Kingdom of Heaven, It ſhall be preached to every Nation, and Kindred, and Tongue, and People. Whereas now, in many parts of America; and whereas now, in the whole Plat of the Regions; where the Mahometan Power is, and where Antichriſt is, There is a concealment of this Goſpel; a denial, a ſhutting of it up from the Acquaintance, and Knowledge, and Reading, and Hearing, of the generality of the People; it is here Preached in ſuch a way, as to make known the great Counſels and Myſteries of the Kingdom of Heaven to Men. But,
In the Second Place: The Kingdom of Heaven, is in the mighty work and operation of the Goſpel of Chriſt upon our Hearts. Then, when we find Chriſt to be the Pearl of great Price, and ſell all to buy him; when we look upon him as the onelyonly Treaſure, and the onelyonly Riches; when our Hearts are under the beginnings of Grace, and the powerful Operations of it; then is the Kingdom of Heaven come to be within us, Matth. 13. 31. The Kingdom of Heaven is like to a grain of Mustard-ſeed, which a Man took, and ſowed in his Field: which indeed is the leaſt of Seeds; but when it is grown, is the greateſt among Herbs, and becometh a Tree; ſo that the Fowls of Heaven lodge in the Branches of it. This is an Expreſſion of the Preaching of the Goſpel; which, if it be received, and taken in, in the power of the Goſpel upon the Heart, It is indeed, a little thing, in the beginning; but it ſpreads more and more upon the Heart and Life. And, the Kingdom of Heaven (ver. 33.) is like unto Leaven, which a Woman took, and hid in three meaſures of Meal, till the whole was leavened. This is the Preaching of the Goſpel, and alſo the power of it upon the Hearts of Men. And when it is a Seed that takes upon hearts, and brings forth abundantly Fruit to Eternal Life, that alſo is the Kingdom of Heaven. And, ver. 44. The Kingdom of Heaven is like treaſure hid in a field, the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth, and ſelleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a Merchant Man, ſeeking goodly Pearls, who when he had found one Pearl of great price, he went and ſold all that he had, and bought it.
This is the Kingdom of Heaven coming within a Man, giving him ſuch a value of Jeſus Chriſt, that he looks upon all things elſe, (as the Apoſtle ſaith) to be no better than droſs and dung, in compariſon of the Excellency of the Knowledge of Chriſt. You know the World, how Ambitious it is of the Riches of Pearl; how deſirous of the Glory, of the Luſtre and Splendour that it gives to them, that wear it? Now when a Man counts Chriſt a Pearl beyond all value, beyond all Eſteem. This is the Kingdom of Heaven (ſaith Chriſt) within a Man. It is not in Word (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks) but in Power. It is the Kingdom of God in Righteouſneſs, and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit. viz. The Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, and that Joy, and Peace of Conſcience that ariſes from it, by the Spirit of God applying it to our Hearts.
Now therefore, All the Time that we live here in the World, we ſhould be gathering our ſelves into this Kingdom of Heaven; and to have the Kingdom of Heaven within us. That is indeed the Oil in our Veſſels, when we have the very Spirit, and the very State of the Kingdom of Heaven within us.
I know that we are now in a State of Imperfection, and cannot riſe up to the Glory of theſe Things, but yet in the Truth and Reality of it; every one that is fitted for the Kingdom of Heaven, he hath this value of Chriſt within him, this inward, ſincere Love of Him, and Reſignation of his Heart to Him; though it be not come into the Glory: Though this Muſtard-ſeed hath not yet ſprung up into all its Amplitudes, and into all its Greatneſs. This therefore apprehend within your ſelves; The Kingdom of Heaven (as Chriſt ſpeaks) it does not come with obſervation, that Men ſhould ſay, Lo here, or lo there; but (ſaith he) The Kingdom of God is within you, Luke 17. 21. He was demanded, When the Kingdom of God ſhould come? (ver. 20.) And he anſwered, and ſaid, The Kingdom of God cometh not with obſervation; neither ſhall they ſay, Lo here, or lo there; for, behold, the Kingdom of God is within you; So I ſay, we ſhould look for Heaven within us. We can never go to Heaven (for that is but an Expreſſion in Compariſon) except Heaven come down now into our Hearts, and except we carry Heaven into Heaven, within our ſelves, within our Spirits. This (as I ſay) is that Oil within our Veſſels, that will keep up the State of Heaven in us, and to us; not by any vertue of its own; but as it is a Grace given, and a Light given from that Supream Light; from that Light (as the Apoſtle John ſaith) that lighteth every Man that cometh into the World. Let us not therefore ſay, Here, or there, is that Kingdom; but let us look what we have of it in our ſelves. That is the Lamp of Profeſſion only, when we ſpeak of a Kingdom without us. That is the Veſſel fill'd with Oil within; when we have this Kingdom within us. The Kingdom of Heaven, as it is a meer Profeſſion, it is Separable from us; we may be parted from It, and It from us.
It ſhall be taken from you (as Chriſt ſaith) and given to a Nation bringing forth the Fruits thereof. So all the Kingdom of Heaven, in the profeſſion of it, will be taken from them that have it, as the Talent was taken from the unprofitable Servant. That which we have (as Chriſt ſpeaks) is taken from us. And therefore, if any of us ſay, O how ezcellent is it to hear, or to ſpeak of the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt, or of the Kingdom of Heaven! It is our Great Delight. Then look to this, that you have it within you: For that Outward Kingdom, though you delight in it never ſo much, it ſhall be taken from you: As, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lo…d are theſe: And yet that Temple was taken from them. So it may be ſaid, the Kingdom of Heaven Are Theſe. But we muſt ſo hear, and ſo ſpeak, and ſo converſe, as having it within us; Elſe remember, the Kingdom will be taken from you; ſeparated from you for ever, and you caſt into that Kingdom of Darkneſs and Miſery to all Eternity.
3. The Third Expreſſion (with which I will ſhut up this Diſcourſe concerning the Kingdom of Heaven). You muſt not think, that the Kingdom of Heaven laſts onelyonly while you are in the preſent State; But the Kingdom of Heaven will be even throughout that Glory of its Appearance: And it is not ſeen, nor known like it ſelf, till it be known in that Glory, and in the Separation which ſhall be between the Wiſe, and the Fooliſh Virgins, and between thoſe that have had onelyonly a Profeſſion, and thoſe who have had the Power: For, the Kingdom of Heaven hath its greateſt Work, Its greateſt Effect to ſhew yet upon every one of us: It never ceaſes to be a Kingdom, no not when it hath made this Separation between the one and the other; For then it takes into it thoſe that are its own; and will throw out of it ſelf thoſe that tho they ſeem to be of it for a Time; yea when all things come into enquiry, into that Great Re-ſearch; It ſhall be made known at that Day▪ that they did not indeed pertain to the Kingdom, who had it not within: Obſerve Mat. 8. 12. The Children of the Kingdom ſhall be caſt out into utter Darkneſs. That is, they that have had this Kingdom in Perfection, but not the Power of it within them. So that I ſay, the great Manifeſtation of the Kingdom of Heaven is, when it comes to ſepparate between the one and the other, and to have its own for ever within it ſelf.
Obſerve therefore, Matth. 13. Our Saviour compares the Kingdom of Heaven to ſuch kind of things, that ſtill it may be known, that it is not a Kingdom in its Glory, till it comes to this Separation of things. We find ver. 24. ſaith our Lord, The Kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a Man that ſowed Seed into his Field; But while Men ſlept, the Enemy came and Sowed Tares among the Wheat, and went away. But when the blade was ſprung up, and brought forth fruit; then the tares appeared alſo. So the ſervant of the houſe-holder came and ſaid unto him, Sir, didſt not thou ſow good Seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares? And he ſaid, An enemy hath done this. The ſervant ſaid unto him, wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he ſaid nay, let both grow together till the time of harveſt; and in the time of harveſt, I will ſay to the Reapers, gather you together first the tares▪ and bind them in bundles to burn them; but gather the wheat into my barn. So you ſee here, that there is that great difference between the Kingdom of Heaven now, and the Kingdom of Heaven, as it ſhall manifeſt it ſelf. It takes in Tares now, as well as Wheat. And ſo in the ſame manner, it is compared unto a Net, that drew in both good and bad into it ſelf. But then it came to that, that the good are ſeparated from the bad, and the bad are caſt into a furnace of fire, where there ſhall be weeping and wailing.
And now I may ſay to you (in ſome humble meaſure) as Chriſt ſaid to his Hearers; Have ye underſtood all theſe things? They ſay unto him, yea, Lord. So I ſay to you, Have you conſidered, and received, and in good meaſure underſtood what I have been now ſpeaking to you? That the Kingdom of Heaven ſets out in the Preaching of it; But where it is not the Kingdom of Heaven within us, we have only a Lamp of Profeſſion; And therefore, it will certainly come to that, That before the Kingdom of Heaven hath done, it will ſeparate between one ſort of Men and the other. The Tares ſhall be gathered into bundles to be burnt; and the bad Fiſh, though they have come to the Net, and come within the Net, yet they ſhall be ſeparated, and caſt into the furnace of fire.
This is the Kingdom of Heaven, and this is the ſame thing which our Saviour intends in this very Parable, I have Explained to you. The Kingdom of Heaven never ceaſes, till it hath ſeparated fooliſh and wiſe Virgins; And therefore it is ſaid, Then ſhall the Kingdom of Heaven: Which is a great Key to this Parable, in this 25th of Matthew. Then ſhall the Kingdom of Heaven. When do you think our Lord meant? He meant, at that very Time that was ſpo…en of before, in the fore-going Chapter; and on this occaſion, I would give you this Note in reading Scripture▪ that you may underſtand it; Obſerve, though we divide Chapters one from another; yet many times the Diſcourſe of Chriſt goes on; it is the very ſame Sermon though in diſtinct Chapters. Now you ſhall find in the 46 verſe, it is written, Bleſſed is that Servant, whom his Lord when be cometh, ſhal find ſo doing. Verily I ſay unto you, that he ſhall make him ruler over all his goods. But, and if that evil Servant ſhall ſay in his heart. My Lord delayeth his coming, and ſhall begin to ſmite his fellow-ſervants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; the Lord of that Servant ſhall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour when he is not aware of; and ſhall cut him aſunder, and appoint him his Portion with the Hypocrites; there ſhall be weeping and gnaſhing of teeth. And then, at that very time, ſhall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto Ten Virgins; who have indeed their time all along in the ſeveral Generations of Men, ſince the Reſurrection of Chriſt; the Kingdom of Heaven hath been, and ſhall be in Motion (as I tell you) from the fulneſs of Time, till the fulneſs of all Times. And then, at the fulneſs of Times, it ſhall be likened unto Ten Virgins, Five Wiſe, and Five Fooliſh; Five taken into the Kingdom of Heaven for ever, and Five that are thruſt out. That is, whoever they are, that are found Fooliſh Virgins.
For, certainly, to make the Parable more capacious, and to ſpread it the wider, for the obſervation and conſideration of all, the Number is made equal; not that they are ſo in themſelves; there are not equal Wiſe and equal Fooliſh: For, alas! the inequality is very great, in compariſon; the Fooliſh mightily exceed the Wiſe, in the preſent State of things.
Though I make no doubt, there will be a different State, when the Kingdom of Chriſt opens it ſelf; there will be many, and many brought to Chriſt. So that I make doubt, whether the number of thoſe that ſhall be then brought into Chriſt, will not raiſe the number of the Saved, ſo as to exceed the other; but, I will let that alone. But what I now tell you is, That the Kingdom of Heaven will not ceaſe till it hath made a Separation between one and the other: and ſo ſhine out in the midſt of them that are taken into it: And, I might give you many great Expreſſions to this purpoſe; but the Parables in Matth. 13. are abundantly ſufficient to ſhew you, That till the Lord of the great Harveſt comes, The Kingdom of Heaven will not ceaſe; and then there will be a Separation made of the one from the other.
I ſhall now ſhut up this great Doctrine, with Two cloſe Applications.
1. That we would (Firſt) receive this great Doctrine, this Thunder and Lightning, into out Conſciences and Affections.
What! hath our Lord ſaid. That even thoſe that are Virgins may be counted Fooliſh? even thoſe that may be counted of the higheſt and pureſt Churches may be Fooliſh Virgins? The Door may be ſhut upon them? They may have Oil in their Lamps only in this World, but not able to bear up in this Marriage▪ Supper of the Lamb, wherein every one is to have his peculiar Lamp and Oil, to feed and nouriſh an exceeding Light and Flame of Purity, of Holineſs. May Virgins have no Oil to ſupply at that time?
Oh then! with what ſerious Caution, Fear and Trembling, ſhould I look back upon my ſelf, and obſerve, whether my Profeſſion hath the inward Riches, the intrinſick Value and Worth in it, or not? Whether there be Oil in my Veſſel, as well as in my Lamp? Whether I have ſuch a Holineſs, as will bear out in that Glorious Appearance of Chriſt, and of his Angels, and of all his Saints with Him? Shall I not be put upon it in that Day, to run a begging, (as it were) for the Oil in my veſſel?
Have we not Eaten and Drank, may we ſay, together at the Table of Chriſt? Have we not made Profeſſion of Chriſt and the Goſpel? Muſt we now be Separated from the real Saints and Servants of God? Have I only had that which would ſerve me to hear, and pray with in publick, and to receive the Lord's Supper? Have I only had that which is the Profeſſion of the Reformed and Proteſtant Religion, and not the Power? And muſt I now be turned out from it, and take my Habitation amongſt the fouleſt Antichriſtian▪ Idolaters, and the worſt of thoſe Superſtitioniſts? Nay, muſt I be turned out among the Heathen, among thoſe that have been the profeſt Enemies of God, and Jeſus Chriſt, and in a worſe caſe than they?
Theſe things, it is our Faithfulneſs, and love to our ſelves, and to our own Souls, to declare them to our ſelves, and to meditate upon them; and to ſearch with great conſideration into our ſelves, to know whether Chriſt be in us of a Truth? or whether we have the Kingdom of Heaven indeed within us? whether we are not running up and down with Obſervation, as Chriſt ſaid, to ſay, where is the Kingdom of Heaven? Where is the true Light of the Goſpel? Where is the beſt Profeſſion, and the beſt Adminiſtration of Ordinances? And in the mean time, that I do not look for the Truth of Faith, the Truth of Repentance, the Spirituality of Knowledge, the power of Holineſs upon my own Heart, and upon my own Life. O that every one of us might make this uſe of it, to turn that Light of Profeſſion Inward▪ to ſearch our own Hearts (as it were) with a Lamp lighting inwards, and with Candles, that we may know how it is with our own Souls. And then,
2. Let us look earneſtly forward to that Appearance, to that Kingdom of Heaven, which our Lord hath here preſented to us; It is to come to another Being, to another Repreſentation than is now. We ſee things now, but in a very dim and a dark Light: As I have often told you, we are in the foul, and in the dark place of the Apoſtacy yet. The Time is near at hand, when every thing ſhall be ſeen in its full Light, and in its glorious Appearance and Repreſentation.
And then, Though it is a Day of Terrour to all wicked, profane, and diſſolute Perſons, under general Profeſſion of Chriſtianity. And though it be a terrible Day alſo to Virgins that have Oil in their Veſſels; that is, who make a great deal of their Profeſſion, and have no Truth of Grace; it will be terrible to them, when they come to find themſelves ſo ſadly benighted and darkened, in the very Heaven of their Profeſſion; as the Expreſſion is in the Prophet; Their very Lamp goes out in obſcure darkneſs.
Yet it is a Day of Rejoycing, and a Day of Glory in it ſelf. And what great Reaſon have we earneſtly to pray, every one for our ſelves, and for them that are in ſuch a dark and hopeleſs condition, that they have not ſo much as Lamps; even thoſe that are under the Profeſſion of Chriſtianity, and yet are in ſuch a caſe; Now, I ſay, in regard to the hopeleſs ſtate of all thoſe; and that we, who have a clearer Light of the Goſpel breaking out, may have more of the power; We have Reaſon to pray for the Approach of that Time, when the Kingdoms of this World, ſhall be Proclaimed to be the Kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Chriſt; When the Spirit ſhall be poured out upon us from on high; and the Everlasting Goſpel ſhall be preached to every Nation, and Tongue, and People under Heaven. O! that our Hearts were earneſt for this Time, and this State; and that our Souls would give God …oreſt, till he come▪ and Rain Righteouſneſs upon us; till he be pleaſed to open (as it were) the very Windows of Heaven, and to Rain down great Showers of Goſpel-Truth, and Goſpel-Grace and Peace, as He will do, before that Great, and Illuſtrious Day of the Lord come.