The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Collection of sermons · Sermon 5
SERMON V. Near the Time of the Shaking in London, &c. On Matth. XXV. Ver. 1. and ſo on to Ver. 13.
Then ſhall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto Ten Virgins, which took their Lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom.
THE Words that I ſhall place the preſent Diſcourſe upon, are thoſe, Viz. While the Bridegroom Tarried, while the Bridegroom delayed; While the Bridegroom Delayed his coming, While He whiled out the Time; As we in our Engliſh Language ſpeak, and as the Greek Word, foreign properly ſignifys: While the Bridegroom Delay'd, or Tarried, or ſpent Time; They all Slumbred and Slept.
I have, you know, in this Parable, ſhewn you the Great Intention of it; That it Repreſents the Glory of that Nuptial Feaſt, That Wedding, That Marriage of the Lamb. And I have already opened the ſeveral Preparatory Particulars in it.
I ſhall now at this Time Diſcourſe upon what I have propoſed; The Bridegroom Tarried; And, ſo I ſhall endeavour to lay this Foundation,
That the coming of Jeſus Chriſt hath not been, ſince He ſpoke this Parable, Neither is it yet immediately to be. The Bridegroom Tarried. And therefore, herein I ſhall endeavour to open to you,
Firſt, How ſtrange it is, according to Scripture-Diſcourſe, that the coming of Chriſt has been ſo long delay'd.
And, I ſhall Anſwer to you, the Objections that ariſe from it againſt the Truth of Scripture, concerning the Bridegroom's coming; And ſo how this delay, and many Scriptures can be reconciled.
In the Second Place, I ſhall give you the two Great Reaſons, eſpecially, why the Bridegroom's coming is Delay'd. And then,
In the Third Place, I ſhall enquire the Signs, when this Tarrying of the Bridegroom is like to be at an End.
And, I ſhall endeavour ſo to Diſcourſe this, as to reſolve you concerning the Preſent Face of the World; That we are in a Time, you know all very well, of very great Commotions of the Nations, and as the Scripture Expreſſion is: We hear of Wars, and Rumours of Wars continually: And, you know, God hath, both in other Nations, and in a part of this Nation (the beyond the Sea.) given us Great Reaſon to conſider that ſhaking of the Earth, that was ſo dreadful in a part of our Nation, tho beyond the Sea; And that gentle Admonition, that he hath given us of it, ſo lately, in this very place, In this very City; I would therefore Diſcourſe that point to you, how far we may look upon theſe, as Signs of the near Coming of the Bridegroom. And then, I ſhall cloſe up the whole, in the Application of it.
I begin with the Firſt: And that is, to Diſcourſe to you, how ſtrange it may ſeem, and diſagreeable to Scripture, that the Bridegroom hath ſo long Delayed his Coming; And I ſhall remove the Objectons againſt the Truth and Verity of Scripture, Notwithſtanding the Delay of the coming.
Firſt therefore, it ſeems very ſtrange, that ſuch an Evil State of the World ſhould continue beyond the Death and Reſurrection of Jeſus Chriſt; Seeing there is ſuch an Infinite Grace of God in a Mediator, and that he pleaſed to give his own Son to Lost Man, That whoever believes in him, ſhould not periſh, bat have Eternal Life, It is no wonder, we may be ready truly to ſay, That the World continued till Chriſt came, till He Dyed, and Roſe again, and till there was an Univerſal Preaching of the Goſpel in His Name: But why ſhould it laſt any longer? So Great a Thing was done Then in the World, that there can be no Expectation of ſuch another. And therefore ſure there was nothing now to do, but for Chriſt to have a Kingdom, as Great, and as Large, and as Glorious, as the Scripture aſſures he ſhall have.
For, as I have noted to you; and I deſire that you would bear (as I have ſaid before) That Scripture in your Mind, Gal. 4. 4. When the Fullneſs of Time was come, God ſent forth his Son.
It is no wonder that Time ſhould laſt, till The Fullneſs of Time came: But that it ſhould laſt beyond, is very ſtrange; God ſent forth his Son, made of a Woman, made under the Law, to redeem them that were under the Law, that we might receive the Adoption of Children. And God hath ſent forth the Spirit of his Son to all thoſe that are his Children, to cry, Abba, Father. Theſe were ſo Great Things, that till this Fullneſs, indeed, it is no Wonder at all, that God bore up the World; becauſe he had ſuch a Great Diſcovery of his Love, and of his Grace, to make; and by which Men had been Saved all along before, even the Fathers in the Old Teſtament: And by which, Salvation is to be alone expected and received. 'Twas no Wonder therefore, (I ſay) that God bore up the World to that Fullneſs of Time. But now, it is ſtrange, that it ſhould laſt any longer than that: It is Wonder there has not been a Kingdom of Redemption, and of Glory ever ſince.
But now, to Anſwer you in that Particular, and by a Place of Scripture, as Notable as this Fullneſs of Time is. There is another far Greater Appearance of the Glory of the Redemption of Chriſt; For you know, All That was in Humiliation; It was in an Incognito-State, in a Diſguiſe of the Son of God, Humbling Himſelf into the Form of a Servant, and to Death, the Death of the Croſs.
But All This is to Appear in Glory; And as there was a Fullneſs of Time for that Firſt Manifeſtation of Chriſt; So there is (Epheſ. 1. 10.) a Diſpenſation of the Fullneſs of Times (not only of Time, but of Times, or of All Time) That he might gather together in One, all things in Chriſt; both which are in Heaven, and which are in Earth, even in Him. Till that Date be come, the Kingdom of Chriſt cannot be.
Let me therefore deſire of you, That you would keep theſe Two Places of Scripture always in your Thoughts, with Relation to the Firſt Coming of Chriſt; and with Relation to his Second Glorious Coming and Appearance. There is the Fullneſs of Time; and Chriſt was Revealed firſt in That, as a Saerifice Dying for Sinners. And there is the Fullneſs of Times, of All Time; wherein all things in Heaven, and in Earth, are to be gathered together in Him, even in Him; In which He is to appear, without Sin to Salvation, Heb. 9. Laſt.
A Second Thing that makes it ſeem very ſtrange, that God ſhould continue the World ſo long, even after This Fullneſs of Time, is this; Becauſe the Heart of God (as I have often ſaid to you) cannot be to this World; Though He allows ſome kind of State and Condition to his Servants in it; ſome Enjoyment, ſome Supports, ſome Preſence of Himſelf, and of his Glory, and Grace in Chriſt; Yet it is far ſhort of what is to be; Becauſe This is a World that God cannot Love; and therefore the Glory of Things ſhall not be in the Preſent State of the World: Becauſe, I ſay, it is a World that God cannot Love; As Chriſt ſaid, My Kingdom is not of this World; not meaning, That it is not a Kingdom, that ſhall Appear, and be Viſible in the Creation of God, in Heaven, and Earth, ſtanding in all the Order and Beauty of it: That is not the meaning. But, My Kingdom is not of this World; That is, Not of this Preſent Corrupt State in it: It muſt come to that, That Time ſhall be no more, (as it is ſaid, Revel. the 10th) before the Kingdom of Chriſt can be. There muſt be not only the Fullneſs of Time, but Time muſt be no more, of ſuch a kind as it hath been: And the Fullneſs of Times muſt come; And Then the Kingdom of Chrsſt ſhall appear: But as yet, it cannot: For the Scripture witneſſeth very plainly, and evidently to us, That though God gives his Servants Food, and Rayment, and Habitation, and gives to many of them, Great Conveniencies, and Enjoyments of this World; Yet it is not, becauſe he loves the World, or likes their State and Condition in the World: For, (ſaith the Apoſtle James) Ye Adulterers, and Adultereſſes, Know ye not that the Friendſhip of this World is Enmity with God? Whoſoever therefore will be a Friend of the World, is the Enemy of God, James 4. 4.
You ſee what a Great Conteſt there is between God and the World: And it can never be comprimiſed; It can never be reconciled: Whoſoever will be a Friend of the World, is the Enemy of God. And therefore, though we value the Things of the VVorld at ſo High a Rate; and the Conveniencies of the VVorld we make ſo Choice of; Yet, if we believe This Great Oracle of Truth; whoever will be a Friend of the World, is the Enemy of God: And, the Friendſhip of this World is Enmity with God.
O that we could carry the Thoughts and Conſiderations of This always upon our Minds! And ſo the Apoſtle John tells us the very ſame thing, 1 John 2. 15. Love not the World, neither the things that are in the World: If any man love the World, the Love of the Father is not in him; For All that is in the World, the Luſt of the Fleſh, the Luſt of the Eye, and the Pride of Life; It is not of the Father, but it is of the World.
And becauſe the VVorld is nothing but an Entertainment of Luſt; and that God cannot love it; Therefore the World paſſeth away: The World is continually in a Fleeting Condition; It is paſſing away: All this Form and State of things, that we now ſee; the Order and Manner of Things now is haſtening away as faſt as it can.
But you will ſay, Why does it not make more haſte, when God doth not Love it, and when it is Enmity to Him? And when, If any Man Love this World, he is an Enemy to God, and the Love of the Father is not in Him? O why ſhould we make it as if it were an Everlaſting State, when it is not? But why is God pleaſed to continue it thus long?
To that, the Anſwer is; Becauſe, there is a Patience of God which is Exerciſed now in the World, and he will Exerciſe that Patience to the very laſt of the Time, he hath appointed to the World.
In regard of this, It is, as if God ſhould ſay, it is true; I do not Love this World; I do not Love to ſee Wicked Men Rolling and Tumbling in it, in all the Pleaſure, Voluptuouſneſs, Enjoyment, and Merriment, wherein they live; I do not Love to ſee my Servants ſo taken up about it, and ſo apt to be Drawn, and Tempted with it, as they are; And yet, for all this, Notwithſtanding it; I will let this World ſtand (ſaith God) that my patience may be known and underſtood: As the Apoſtle Peter ſpeaks (2 Pet. 2. 9.) The Lord is not ſlack concerning his promiſe, as ſome Men count ſlackneſs, but is long ſuffering to us-ward: Not willing that any ſhould Periſh, but that all ſhould come to Repentance. The meaning of which Expreſſion, I cannot better expound to you, than by examining it, what a kind of patience it is, that is intended? For Wicked Men, they are wicked ſtill, Notwithſtanding, the Patience of God, and they will not Repent. And, God takes them away, one by one, as he ſees Good. And the VVorld continues very bad, from one Generation to another: And yet God Exerciſe his patience towards it. You may underſtand it, by comparing this Expreſſion with the firſt part of the Chapter. They ſay (in ver. 4.) Where is the promiſe of his Coming? For ſince the Fathers fell aſleep; All things continue, as they were, from the beginning of the Creation. Since the Fathers fell aſleep; It is very Natural, to underſtand it of thoſe firſt Long-living Patriarchs before the Flood: Since They fell aſleep, and the Floud came, (ſay theſe Scoffers) There hath been no change of things here: The VVorld hath ſtood, juſt as it did from thence: And herein is the Patience of God, the VVorld was about One Thouſand Six Hundred and Fifty Six Years, when the Flood came. Now in Every ſuch Generation of the World, Every Thouſand Years of the World, God hath had as Great Reaſon to Deſtroy the World, as he had Then: For, Wickedneſs hath Grown to ſuch an Heighth, as it did then. And yet for all this, God Exerciſes the Patience and Long-Suffering, that he doth not Deſtroy the World again and again; and leave a few, as he did then, to people the World a-new.
But he continueth Summer, and Winter, and Harveſt, and the State of the World: He hath not Deſtroyed Every Living Thing, as He did then: Though there have been Notable Judgments in All Times, as I ſhall preſently ſpeak to you.
A Third Thing, that ſhould make us very much wonder, That God ſhould keep the World a-foot ſo long; It is in Regard of the Great Inſolence, and Boldneſs of Wicked Men. What a Boldneſs is this! That they ſhould ſay, Where is the Promiſe of his Coming? And that they ſhould find ſomething or other to ſay, It is nothing, it is only a Thing that comes by Chance, or it is a Natural Cauſe, that the World continues.
Now, let it be granted, That it is only a Natural Cauſe; Who is the Great Ruler, and Conducter of Natural Cauſes, but God? And who hath ſuited Natural Cauſes to Times and Seaſons, but God? Let the greateſt Atheiſt find out as Good Natural Cauſes, as he can: As for Example, the Cauſes of the Great Earthquake at Jamaica: There is nothing not the leaſt Thing that comes to paſs, but by His Wiſdom, and by his Power; And that it goes ſo far, and no farther, It is fully attributed to be to himſelf, and to no other.
And therefore, I beſeech you, keep, as an Antidote againſt all the Atheiſtical Talk that you meet with in the World, concerning theſe Things; keep continually in your Mind what we read of, in the Book of Daniel. Several times indeed we read of Great Things ſpoken of God. Dan. 3. Nebuchadnezzar made This Acknowledgment to God: Whoever (ſaith he) ſhall ſpeak a word againſt the God of Shaderach, Meſech, and Abednego, ſhall be cut in peices. He owned, and was convinced of ſuch a Mighty Power of God, that he would not endure there ſhould be a Mouth opened againſt him.
Indeed, It were very well, if Chriſtian Nations would learn by the Example of an Heathen Prince, That they would not ſuffer the Tongue of Atheiſts to walk about ſo brikly as it does in the World: They ſet their Mouths againſt the Heavens, and their Tongue rangeth through the whole Earth, as the Expreſſion is in the Pſalms. I ſay, 'Twere well that the Mouths of Atheiſts were ſtopt, and that they had ſuch notice from the Supreme Powers, that they might be Daunted, and afraid to Diſhonour the Great God of Heaven and Earth, and to make nothing of his Name, and the Works he doth in the World. So in the 34th Verſe of the 4th of Daniel, Nebuchadnezzar, This Heathen Prince, ſays: I Nebuchadnezzar lift up mine Eyes unto Heaven, and mine Ʋnderstanding returned unto me; And I bleſſed the moſt High, and I praiſed, and honoured him that liveth for ever, whoſe Dominion is an Everlaſting Dominion, and his Kingdom is from Generation to Generation: And all the Inhabitants of the Earth are reputed as nothing; and he doth according to his Will in the Armies of Heaven, and among the Inhabitants of the Earth: and none can ſtay his Hand: That's a great Expreſſion, that I deſire you to keep in your Minds; None can ſtay his Hand: He can stay it Himſelf, but no other can ſtay it.
I would deſire you but to conſider, in regard of the late Remarkable Providence toward This City: Of which, moſt People (I perceive) were Senſible; ſome in Greater, and ſome in Leſſer Degree: This Place of Scripture does very much affect my Thoughts concerning it: Who can ſtay God's Hand? If He had ſaid, Let it tear up the Foundations of this City, and the Houſes in it, who could have ſtay'd his Hand? I beſeech you conſider, Why might it not have been ſo much more, as well as ſo much, or ſo little? And yet Men are ready to ſay, Becauſe God did no more, he could do no more, except Natural Cauſes had been prepared to go on, and to go further: And becauſe the Earth Did give a kind of a Little Nodd, and no more, We are not ſenſible of the Great Hand of God; and who it was that was pleaſed to ſtay his Hand: It was His Own Grace, and His own Mercy, to ſtay his Hand: As if he ſhould ſay, I'll let you ſee the Danger, and no more than Juſt let you ſee it: And therefore, O that Men would praiſe the Lord for his Goodneſs, and for his Wonderful Works to the Children of Men! And that they would ſtand in Awe of Him, and conſider his Doings. For God forbears (you ſee) with an Infinite Patience and Long-Suffering: He lets Men Open their Mouths againſt Himſelf, and does not cut them off in the very moment, through his Mercies.
But, if you ſay, Will God always put up theſe Wrongs and Reproaches? Shall Right to this Great Name of God never be done?
Yes, He will make the World ſenſible of Him by Repentance: Or elſe there's a Day of Dreadful Recompence; As if God ſhould ſay, I have Time enough; I have an Eternity to ſhew my Diſpleaſure upon Them in; I have it Seal'd in my Treaſures; Their Foot ſhall ſlide in Due Time; And therefore I'll bear with them a little Time; Becauſe There's a Day of Perdition of Ʋngodly Men; As the Apoſtle Peter ſpeaks, 2 Peter▪ 3. The Day of the Lord will come. Men ſay; Where is it? Saith the Apoſtle, (Verſe 10.) The Day of the Lord will come. And there is a Reſerving of Heaven and Earth unto Fire, againſt that Day, and the Perdition of ungodly men.
And then, There is a Gracious Purpoſe of God: I deſire that you would take notice of that Place; Which ought indeed to be very much upon our Thoughts, in this very regard; That it is Propheſied, and foretold, That they ſhall come from the Ends of the Earth, Jer. 16. 20. Saying, ſhall a Man make Gods unto himſelf, and they are no Gods? Therefore behold, I will this once. It is a very notable Expreſſion; Like that of ſhaking Heaven and Earth, yet once more (ſaith the Apoſtle) I ſhake not the Earth onelyonly, but alſo Heaven; That thoſe things which cannot be ſhaken may remain; And that the things which can be ſhaken may be taken away at once: Therefore behold, I will this once cauſe them to know, I will cauſe them to know mine hand, and my might, and they ſhall know that my Name is the Lord. And this ſeems to be a Gracious and a Merciful Intention; For in Verſe 19. O Lord my Strength and my Fortreſs, and my Refuge in the Day of Affliction, the Gentiles ſhall come unto thee from the Ends of the Earth, and ſhall ſay, ſurely our Fathers have Inherited Lies, Vanity, and things wherein there is no profit. Jeremy apprehends great Grace in God upon this Proſpect, and ſo applies to Him in his own Caſe, O Lord my Strength, &c.
So you may ſee why God bears the Reproaches of them, that contemn him; Wherefore do the Wicked contemn God? Saith God, I'll have a Day of Perdition for Ungodly Men: And I'll have a Day, when the Gentiles ſhall come from the Ends of the Earth: And for once, they ſhall know my Might, and my Power; And that my Name is Jehovah. I'll bring all mine Home, my Patience is for them, that they might not Periſh, but come to Repentance, &c.
A Fourth thing that makes it very ſtrange, that God continues the World ſo long, is, Becauſe there are ſo many Prayers of his Saints for the Kingdom of Chriſt, to come; And that the Wickedneſs of the Wicked may be brought to an End; And that the Oppreſſion and Perſecution of his Church may be at an End. It is a wonder therefore, that God ſhould not hear the Prayers of his Servants, and bring all theſe things to their great Iſſue.
But now, our Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath given us an Account of this, Luk. 18. 7, 8. And ſhall not God avenge his own Elect, which cry Day and Night unto him, tho he bear long with them? I tell you, that he will avenge them ſpeedily. Nevertheleſs, when the Son of Man cometh, ſhall he find Faith on the Earth? He will avenge them ſpeedily, tho he tarry long.
You may think, thoſe things Contradict one another; To tarry long, and yet to avenge them ſpeedily: Yet he will come, and he will avenge.
As it was ſaid concerning the Souls under the Altar; Stay, till the reſt of your Brethren are filled up; And then there ſhall be Vengeance indeed to the Enemy, and a Recompence to his Servants; And yet how little Faith concerning this even among the Servants of God!
The laſt thing why you may think it very ſtrange, is this; Becauſe the Apoſtle ſaid ſo long ago, The Ends of the World were come. I confeſs, it may ſeem to give an Atheiſt ſome hold, ſome advantage; You know how many places of Scripture ſpeak to this purpoſe, 1 Cor. 10. 12. Saith the Apoſtle, All theſe things happened unto them for Enſamples: And they are Written for our Admonition, upon whom the Ends of the World are come: And (ſaith the Apoſtle John) This is the Laſt time, and hereby we know it, this is the laſt hour; And theſe are the laſt Days; All this is ſpoken, and yet for all this, the Kingdom of Chriſt hath not come: And Sixteen Hundred Years, and more are paſſed, ſince theſe things have been ſpoken.
Now Indeed, theſe things look very ſtrange, and might make Men think, that there is no ſuch thing, as the Coming of Chriſt; For tho the Apoſtles Preached it, and they may ſay, indeed, Men that are Preachers, may perſwade Men ſo; And indeed, they ſay ſo; But we ſee nothing coming to paſs; Did not the Apoſtle John ſpeak of the laſt Day, the last Hour, and the laſt Time? And the Apoſtle Peter, of the very laſt of Times? As the word is very Emphatical in the Greek; And yet for all that, it is not come.
To all this, I would onelyonly ſay theſe two things; Or rather, give you two places of Scripture, how theſe things come to paſs, In the 2 Theſ. ch. 2. v. 3. The Apoſtle tells us plainly, there was ſuch a Noiſe (as I may ſo expreſs it) of the Doctrine of the Apoſtles, concerning the laſt Times; That all Chriſtians then were upon the Expectation, were upon the Gaze, when that Coming of Chriſt ſhould be: Now, ſaith the Apoſtle, Let no Man deceive you by any means; For that day ſhall not come, except there come a falling away firſt. Except there be an Apoſtacy in the Chriſtian Church firſt, That Day ſhall not come. And therefore, don't wonder, tho it be called the laſt Time, in regard of the Fullneſs of Time, and Chriſt coming at it, and becauſe of the laſt of the four Monarchies; Yet it is not ſo the laſt Time, but that it muſt give Room to an Apoſtacy to come upon it: And ſo in the Revelation, as I have often ſpoken to you. Chap. 11. And in the 12th and 13th Chapters. There are to be Time, Times, and Half a Time: A Thouſand two Hundred, and Sixty Days: Fourty and two Months. All which (as I have ſaid often to you) make up Twelve Hundred and Sixty Years, between the Preaching of the Goſpel, the Chriſtian Empire, and the coming of Jeſus Chriſt: And ſo I have ſpoken of the firſt thing, why there may ariſe ſuch thoughts upon this, that the Kingdom of Chriſt is not come yet to this very Day. I come now to the Second thing, to give you very Great Reaſons, beſides what I have intimated already to you, Why Chriſt hath not yet come.
1. The Firſt Account I would give, is, That ſo very Agreeable Repreſentation of the Time of the Duration of the Creation, and of the Kingdom of Chriſt in Compare with it: The Apoſtle Peter hath Given in his Second Epiſtle c. 3. 8. when he was ſpeaking of the Coming of Chriſt, and of the Long Delay of it; at which Atheiſts took Advantage, and Antichriſtian Scoffers, to play upon it; Saying, Where is the Promiſe of his Coming? The Apoſtle Reſolves the Objection, by preſſing Earneſtly on Chriſtians, not to be Ignorant of One Thing, or not to let it lie Hid from them; Viz. That One Day is with the Lord as a Thouſand Years; Referring to Each Day of the Creation, Deſigned by God as a Type of a Thouſand Years Duration of the Creation; They being then Six, before the Seventh, then Sanctified and Bleſſed by God as a SABBATH, the Type of the Grand Sabbath; They pourtray Six Thouſand Years Duration of the Creation, before the Great Sabbatiſm of the Kingdom of Christ; And that being Given under the Repreſentation of a Thouſand Years, Revel. 20. Yet thoſe Thouſand Years are in the Deſignation of God, That One Day of the Lord, That Illustrious Day, That Day of Judgment, The Great Day, The Day; if then Jeſus Chriſt comes in the End of the Fourth Millenary, or Thouſand of Years, as in the Fullneſs of Time; And God hath Laid out Six Thouſand for the Duration of the World until that Thouſand Years, (Except what Shortning ſhall be for the Elects Sake, in the End of the Sixth Millenary) as the Fullneſs of Times, or of All Time; It is very Evident, The Coming of the Bridegroom, after His Death, and Reſurrection, muſt be under the Delay of about Two Thouſand Years; as have now Already ſo near Run out.
Argum. 2. If there be ſuch a Number of the Elect to be brought Home to God, and to Chriſt; And that They have lain ſcattered through theſe near Two Thouſand Years, and muſt be brought in before the Kingdom of Chriſt; Then the Kingdom of Chriſt cannot be, till they are Brought in. But ſo the Apoſtle ſhews, Heb. 4. 4, 5, 6, 7, &c. Some muſt Enter into Reſt to the Laſt. And of this the Apoſtle Peter ſpeaks in the ſame Diſcourſe, as a Further Reſolution of the Scoffers Queſtion, Where is the Promiſe of His Coming? The Lord is not Slack concerning his Promiſe, as ſome Men count Slackneſs; but is Long-Suffering to us-ward. Not willing that Any ſhould periſh, but that All ſhould come to Repentance, Verſe 9.
That This hath, in ſome General Latitude, a Reſpect to All Men, I would not Deny; but that is the Loweſt, and Leaſt Part of its Intention; For ſo it hath not its Efficacy, nor its Effect; but take it with Relation to the Elect of God, And ſo it hath Full Effect; Not One Periſhes, but Every Single One comes to Repentance. If therefore there is ſuch a Number of Elect to be Brought Home to Repentance, who ſhall have their Lot in the Kingdom of Chriſt at his Coming: His Coming then muſt needs be Delayed till All the Children of the Bride-Chamber be Brought into a Condition to meet the Bridegroom with Oil in their Veſſels▪ as well as in their Lamps.
Argum. 3. There is ſuch a Space of Time Determined by God, Settled, Fixed and Declared in the Sure Word of Prophecy, Lin'd out by Four Monarchies, that muſt Runn out Themſelves; And there is a Particular Aſſignation of Time to the Laſt State of the Fourth, the Laſt of Them; Viz. Time, Times, and Half a Time, Expounded into One Thouſand Two Hundred and Sixty Days of Years, Revel. 12. 6. 14. And in this Time Wickedneſs Fills up its Ephah, or Meaſure; and is carried as by the Wings of a Stork, and Settled for Ever upon its own Baſe: And to this Aſſignation of Time, Jeſus Chriſt Conſented, and Teſtified his Conſent, by Lifting up Both his Hands to Heaven, and Swearing, There ſhould be this Time, Times and Half: And therefore no Injury is Done to Him: And that then, and not before, All the Wonders of his Kingdom ſhall be Finiſhed. On this very Account the Apoſtle ſo Solemnly Declares, 2 Theſſ. c. 2. 1, &c. That That Day of Chriſt could not come, Except that Apoſtacy, the Laſt State of the Fourth Monarchy, was Revealed, and Blown off by the Spirit of Chriſt's own Mouth, and at Laſt, utterly Conſumed by the Brightneſs and Glory of his Appearance, at that his Coming: Before it could come to this, thoſe Times and Half muſt be Expired: Immediately therefore after the Death and Reſurrection of Chriſt, Viſion and Prophecy were Sealed, Daniel 9. 24. with Relation to that Greateſt and Richeſt Effect of Prophecy; Viz. the Kingdom of Chriſt It was Sealed. But then Immediately, at the very Beginning of Half Time, Chriſt took the Firſt Opportunity of making a Seizure; viz. at the Reformation, and of Swearing, there ſhould be Time of ſuch ſort no more; but in the Days of the Seventh Trumpet; When he ſhall begin to found the Myſtery of God, Viz. The Kingdom of Chriſt, ſhall be Finiſhing, as he hath ſpoken by all his Servants the Prophets: Which ſhall begin at 1697, So near approaching; All which things have been fully, by the Aſſiſtances of God, made out, and publickly ſet forth; And are now onelyonly ſo far briefly Repreſented, as to give ſatisfaction to this doubt; How comes it to paſs, that the Coming of the Bridegroom hath been thus long Delay'd? And no further Inſiſted upon in theſe Sermons Sett for Preaching the Goſpel, eſpecially (under the Grace of the Divine Spirit) to work upon the Heart, and to engage in all Holineſs of Converſation; I come therefore to the Practical Reflection, on what hath been ſpoken, in theſe ſhort Applications:
Appli. 1. That we would take heed of the Atheiſtick, and prophane boldneſs of Scoffers; Who, becauſe the Bridegroom on ſo Holy and Wiſe Reaſons, as Scripture hath given us, Delays his Coming, ſay, where is the promiſe of his Coming? They believe no ſuch thing; And indeed, all Diſcourſes againſt the Kingdom of Chriſt, and the Propheſies of Scripture, or turning them into Allegory, and Metaphor, Give Countenance, and Aſſurance to ſuch Prophaneneſs, and Boldneſs of Scoffing; Let us aherefore be mindful of the Words of the Holy Prophets, and of the Doctrines of the Apostles, of the Lord and Saviour, 2 Peter c. 3. v, 1, &c.
Appli. 2. Let us beware of the Accounting the delay of the Bridegrooms Coming to any thing in the Courſe of Nature, or, as if the World could bear up it ſelf, or Perpetuate it ſelf; As they of whom the Apoſtle ſpeaks, who are willfully Ignorant, that the World by the very Word of God, was ſettled ſo out of, and yet in ſuch a Neighbourhood to the Water; that it depended wholly on the Word of his Power, not to be overflown by it: And that the Heavens and Earth that now are, are ſo Reſerv'd, are Treaſured up for Fire at the Time Appointed by God, for Perdition of ſuch, and of All Ungodly Men; That we may be in a continual Dependence upon Him, and Preparation for the Bridegroom's Coming.
Applicat. 3. Let us have Juſt Apprehenſions of the Patience, and Long-Suffering of God, in the Delay of the Bridegroom's Coming▪ And that it is no Sluckneſs concerning his Promiſe, As if He were altogether ſuch a one as our Selves. And Let us Account it Salvation; And ſo it will be, if we are His: For He will let None of His Periſh, but Every One of Them ſhall come to Repentance. But if we are not His, though we Know it not, Yet His Goodneſs Leads to Repentance, by its Gracious Invitations, and Excitements: And if through our Hard, and Impenitent Hearts, It does not Lead us ſo, we Treaſure up Wrath againſt the Day of Wrath, and the Revelation of the Righteous Judgment of God at this Coming of the Bridegroom, Rom. 2. 3, 4, &c.
Applicat. 4. Let us not Think it Boldneſs, or Preſumption, to Search the Scriptures; and, 2 Peter 1. 19, &c. to Give Heed to the Sure Word of Prophecy, as to a Light that ſhineth in a Dark Place, Till the Day Dawn, and the Day-Star Riſe in our Hearts; Eſpecially to that Line, of TIME, Times, and Half Time: For our Lord charges it as Hypocriſie, not to Diſcern the Signs of the Times, That is, the Characters of Time, Scripture hath Impreſs'd upon it: And though there are many Providential Signs, as Wars, Commotions, Earthquakes, Yet theſe will not Define Time to us; OnelyOnly the Line of Time can Do that: And let us Humbly wait upon God therein; and take in All Other Marks God hath Given by His Providence therein.
But, as I ſay, The Line of Time is the Sure Rule by which we are to walk; and I have full Aſſurance, if we behold, according to that, the Courſe of Scripture-Prophecies, the Emblems, or Prophetical Types and Figures given therein, the Numbers of Time proportion'd to, and Running all along from Time to Time, through thoſe Figures, and compare All with the Providences, and Great Events God hath taken Care ſhould be Recorded in Hiſtory, brought to our Knowledge, or be coming down to our very ſight, we may be fully Confirmed, as by a Threefold Cord, not to be Broken, and that it is a Line Reaching to 1697.
Applicat. 5. Let us have Continual Apprehenſions of the Glory, and Greatneſs of That Day; Let us conſider That Day, Malac. 3. 18. When we ſhall Return; and Deſcern between the Righteous and the Wicked; Him that Serveth God, and Serveth Him not; Him that Sweareth, and Him that Feareth an Oath; and between the Wiſe, and the Fooliſh Virgins; and not put off the Thoughts of it; Becauſe we ſee the World ſo Earneſt in Eating and Drinking, Buying and Selling, Building, and Planting, Marrying, and Giving in Marriage: For ſo it was in the Days of Noah, and of Lot, until the very Day: And ſo our Lord ſaith, It ſhall be in the Day of the Son of Man.
Applicat. 6. Let us ſo Conſider, and Apply our Selves to the Examining, what manner of Men we ought to be in All Holineſs, and Godlineſs of Converſation, and therein to Look for, and to Haſte on to the Day of God; and with the Spirit, and under his Influences; and with the Bride-like Affection, Cry out, as Hearers mov'd with an Holy Sympathy or Likeneſs of Affection, Even Cry out in Harmony, Come, Lord Jeſus, Come Quickly.