The Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven, Treatise · Verse 6

The Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven · Treatise · Verse 6

p. 61Vers. 6. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the Bride-groom cometh, go ye out to meet him.

1. Night doth Mystically and Metaphorically signifie a time of Rest, Ease and Quietness, also drowsiness, sluggishness, and a lazing disposition; likewise a condition of a sinful careless security, Rom. 10.11, 12. And that knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our Salvation nearer than when we believed— The Night is far spent, the day is at hand, let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the Armour of light.— 1 Thes. 5.2, 6, 7. For your selves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night— Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober— For they that sleep, sleep in the night, and they that are drunken are drunken in the night— Matth. 24.48, 49, 50. 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 that he is not aware of.

p. 622. A condition and time of great darkness, discomfort, sore Afflictions and heavy Judgements, Exod. 12.29. And it came to pass, That at Midnight the LORD smote all the first Born in the Land of Egypt: Mich. 3.6, 7. Therefore Night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a Vision, and it shall be dark unto you that ye shall not divine, and the Sun shall go down over the Prophets and the day shall be dark over them— Then shall the Seers be ashamed, and the Diviners confounded, yea they shall cover their Lips, for there is no Answer of God. Joel 3.1. Gird your selves and lament ye Priests, howle ye Ministers of the Altar: come lye all night in sackcloth ye Ministers of my God; for the Meat-offering and the Drink-offering is withholden from the house of your God.

3. A time of greatest retirement and repose for most serious devotion and spiritual Meditation, and holy Contemplation, Psal. 4.4. Commune with your own heart upon your Bed, and be still, &c. Psal. 16.7. My reins shall instruct me in the night season: Cant. 3.1. By night on my Bed I sought him whom my Soul loveth, I sought him but found him not.

This Midnight Dispensation in the text doth Mystically and Metaphorically signifie all these three particular conditions at the time of the Bridegroom's coming, with respect to the p. 63several sorts of persons, who will be then and in that day concerned therein, viz. First, The foolish Virgins will then be found in a sluggish disposition and condition of a sinful careless security, so sleepy that their Lamps go out, ver. 8. And the Wise Virgins will be too secure and careless at that time, ver. 5.

Secondly, Worldly Professors who are taught to Worship God according to the Commandments and precepts of men, and the Inventions and Superstitions of men will then be found under great darkness, discomfort and amazement, Luk. 21.25, 26, 27. And there shall be signs in the Sun, and in the Moon, and in the Stars, and upon the Earth distress of Nations with perplexity, the Sea and the Waves roaring—Mens hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth, for the powers of Heaven shall be shaken— And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a Cloud with power and great glory; Because of the sore Afflictions and Righteous Judgements of God, Matth. 24.21, 29, 30. For then shall be great tribulation. such as was not from the beginning of the World to this time, no nor ever shall be— Immediately after the tribulation of those dayes shall the Sun be darkened, and the Moon shall not give her light, and the Stars shall fall from Heaven, and the powers of the Heavens p. 64shall be shaken— And then shall appear the Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory.

Thirdly, There will be some, a few, a small Remnant of Virgin Saints who will accompany the Bridegroom when he comes, even in the midnight dispensation, and they are those hundred forty four thousand who have their Fathers name written in their foreheads, Rev. 14.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. being in their retirement, repose and secret devotion formerly sealed for the Servants of God, Rev. 7.3, 4. And now come with the Bridegroom and shall stand with the Lamb upon Mount Sion being without fault before the Throne of God.

There was a Cry made, &c.

The Question is, 1. What Cry this was? 2. Who made this Cry? 3. Who heard this Cry?

Touching the first Question, What Cry this was, I answer the Greek word (foreign) doth both here and in many other places of Scripture signifie a very loud, fierce and vehement Cry, as Act. 7.57. They cryed out with a loud voice, Act. 19.28. As an Herauld at Arms cries out with a loud voice when he proclaims an Edict, or when the common Cryer makes proclamation, Rev. 7.2. He cryed with a loud voice, &c. and Rev. 10.3. Rev. 19.17.

p. 65Touching the second Question, Who made this Cry, I answer, either the LORD himself, or the Ministers of Christ, or the people of God.

For this Cry is either by Preaching the coming of Christ publickly, Isa. 58.1. Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a Trumpet, &c. Matth. 24.14. And the Gospel of the Kingdom (foreign) shall be proclaimed or preached publickly (foreign) in all the inhabited world, or else a Cry raised by the voice of a great number of the Saints and Servants of God in the Temple of God that was opened in Heaven, Isa. 66.6. A voice of the LORD a voice from the Temple, after the Resurrection of the two prophetical Witnesses of Christ which the Beast had killed, compare Rev. 11.7, 11, 12, 17, 19. And they heard a great voice from Heaven, saying unto them, come up hither, ver. 12. with Rev. 19.1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. And a voice came out of the Throne, and I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, saying Alleluja, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoyce, and give honour to him, for the Marriage of the Lamb is come. Blessed are they that are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. These are the true sayings of God, or by the Lord himself, Joel 3.16. Jehovah also shall p. 66roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the Heaven and the Earth shall shake, read Hag. 2.6, 7. and Heb. 12.26, 27. and ver. 25. see that ye refuse not him that speaketh from Heaven.

Touching the third Question, Who heard the Cry? I Answer, All the Virgins both wise and foolish heard this Cry, The Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him, as appears in the next verse. For they all (being awakened by that loud Cry) rose and trimmed their Lamps, ver. 7. and probably there were many others, even great multitudes that heard this Cry or Proclamation of the Bridegrooms coming, who were glad and rejoyced that the Marriage of the Lamb was come, and that doth appear by what is prophesied and recorded Rev. 19.1. to the 9 verse.

The sum and substance of this Cry is contained in these words, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him, Wherein are three things to be observed, viz. 1. The Attention, Behold. 2. The Assertion, The Bridegroom cometh. 3. The Obligation or Duty Enjoyned and Commanded, Go ye out to meet him.

When God would have some wonderful and glorious thing made known unto the world and unto his people, He stirs up their Attention by this word, Behold, Isa. 65.1. p. 67Zeph. 3.19. 1 Cor. 15.21. 1 Joh. 3.1. Rev. 15.5. & 21.5. especially when God speaks of his Son Jesus Christ, Isa. 28.16. Joh. 1.29. Rev. 1.7, 16.15.22.7. Behold he cometh, &c. Behold I come quickly. So in the text, Behold the Bridegroom cometh. This is a matter which is worthy of, and calls for the Churches, Ministers and Saints Attention.

The Bridegoom cometh.

It's not said HE will come, though that is true, Heb. 10.37. Yet a little while and HE that shall come, will come, and will not tarry. But HE cometh (foreign) HE is upon his March, Rev. 19.11, 12, 13, 14, 15. HE hath been coming a great while, HE went forth long ago, Rev. 6.2. and now He is very near even at the Door ready to enter into the Bride-chamber; Only HE stands and stayes at the Door till the Bride have made her self ready, Rev. 19.7, 8. ver. 10. of this Chapter, And they that were ready went in with him to the Marriage and the Door was shut.

Seeing that many both Learned and Godly men have been mistaken in their Opinions about the coming of Christ as was hinted in the Exposition of the former Verse; It concerns the Churches of Saints, the Ministers of Christ, and all sanctified Believers to search p. 68the holy Scriptures and pray that God will by his holy Spirit open the Scriptures to us, and open our understanding thereby in this his coming.

And now let not the Churches Ministers, nor any of the Saints be offended with me for shewing my Opinion, touching this coming of Christ and the Scripture grounds and Reasons for the same, which I humbly offer with all submission unto their Judgement.

I do believe and am perswaded that the coming of Christ (spoken of in this Parable, ver. 6.10.) is not the coming of Christ in his own person upon the Earth (though I do believe Christ will come the second time in his own person upon the Earth, Heb. 9.28. Zach. 3.4, 5.) but this is his virtual, spiritual, powerful and glorious coming in his Saints and Sanction as the Bridegroom of his Church, the new Jerusalem, who shall also come down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her husband. Our Davids Mystical Kingdom on Earth among his Saints, when HE shall be King of all the Earth, and all the Kingdoms of this world shall be Christs. And when the Lords redeemed Ones, whom HE hath made Kings and Priests to God, shall have the Kingdom and Dominion under the whole Heaven given to them, and they shall reign on Earth.

p. 69And the reasons grounded on Srcipture are as followeth. 1. Negatively. 2. Affirmatively.

Negatively, That the coming of Christ spoken of in the 6 & 10 verses of this Parable is not the coming of Christ in his own person upon the Earth. First, Because at the personal coming of Christ on Earth, (called his appearing the Second time, Heb. 9.28.) all his Saints shall come with him, Zach. 14.5. And Jehovah my God shall come and all the Saints with thee, 1 Thes. 3.13. At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his Saints. The living Bodies of the Saints shall be changed and glorified. And the Bodies of the Saints deceased shall then be raised and also glorified, Phil. 3.20, 21. For our Conversation is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour our Lord Jesus Christ— who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. 1 Thes. 4.14, 15, 16, 17. For if we believe, That Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God hring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep— For the Lord himself p. 70shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Arch-angel and with the Trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first— Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Aire, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. But there will not be such a general and Physical Resurrection at the coming of Christ as the Bride-groom, for then the living Saints only shall enter into the Bride-Chamber, and those wise Virgins who never came personally into the Kingdom of the Father in Heaven shall be admitted into the Kingdom of the Son on Earth, Rev. 3.21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne; Even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne, which Christ himself expounds, Rev. 2.26 saying, To him will I give power over the Nations, Even as (or the same power that) I received of the Father.

Secondly, Because at the personal coming of Christ on Earth, will be the Universal Physical Resurrection of all that are dead (and the Physical change of all their Bodies that are then alive, 1 Cor. 15.51, 52. Behold I shew you a Mysterie we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an Eye at the last Trump p. 71(for the Trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed.) Which Resurrection Christ in Joh. 6.39, 40, 44. three times together testifies shall be at the last day, and Matth. 25.31, 32. When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him, then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory, compared with Rev. 20.11, 12, 13. And I saw a great white throne and him that sate on it, from whose face the Earth and the Heaven fled away, and there was found no more place for them. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God, and the Books were opened, and another Book was opened which is the Book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Book according to their works — And the Sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man according to his Works: together with the eternal Judgement, Mat. 25.33, 34, 46. 2 Thes. 1.7, 8, 9, 10. 2 Tim. 4.1. Jude 14, 15. Rev. 20.12.

Thirdly, Because when Christ comes virtually and spiritually as the Bridegroom, then will begin the times of the Restitution of all things. Then God will restore our Judges as at the first, and our Counsellours p. 72as at the beginning, Isa. 1.25, 26, 27. Then Christ will restore Israel, and restore the Kingdom to Israel, Mich. 4.7, 8. Even the first Dominion shall come to the Daughter of Zion, the Kingdom shall come to the Daughter of Jerusalem. Then Christ will make all things new, Rev. 21.5. But when Christ shall come personally upon the Earth, (as the judge of quick and dead) then will be the dissolution of the material Heavens and Earth, and the final Consumption and Conflagration of all things, 2 Pet. 3.4, 7, 12. When the Heavens being on fire shall be dissolved. Now consider that this great Desolation of all things, yea of the material Heavens and Earth (which the Scripture testifies will be at Christs, second coming,) cannot be at the beginning of his Kingdom here on Earth for above a thousand years, after that time Gog and Magog will be gathered together and compass the Camp of the Saints about and the beloved City, Rev. 20.4, 5, 7, 8, 9.

Objection. Doth not this Opinion exempt and exclude Christ from Rule and Soveraignty in his Monarchical Kingdom on Earth, contrary to Rev. 20.4. They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years?

Answer. No. Consider first, Christ may be said to be with a person or people, and they p. 73with him virtually by his Spirit and power or his powerful spiritual presence. Isa. 57.15. 2. Cor. 6.16. Rev. 2.1. Rom. 6.4. Colos. 2.12, 13. As it is said, Jer. 8.9. Is not the LORD in Zion? Is not her King in Her? though not personally, but spiritually.

Secondly, As Christ is said to be in his Mystical Kingdom the Church of God here on Earth; where his Laws, his Statutes and his Ordinances are dispensed in his Name, and by the power of his holy Spirit: so will he be in his Monarchical Kingdom, the throne of his Father David here on Earth, Luke 1.32, 33. And the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David. And he shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever, and of his Kingdom there shall be no end; not personally at the beginning of it, but virtually by his Laws, &c.

Did not the Caesars and Roman Senate govern the World by their Laws and Edicts, and by those Kings and Governours of Provinces whom they Commissioned and made Rulers for them? Is not the King of Spain said to Rule and Reign in those parts of America, and in other parts of the World, (which he or his Ancestors Conquered) by his Laws Civil and Ecclesiastical, although he himself was never present there in his own person? And doth not the Pope reign over p. 74the Kings and Kingdoms of the Earth, who have agreed and given their Kingdom to the Beast, Rev. 17.17, 18. though he was never personally in those Kingdoms, but gives Commissions to his Kings, his Nuntio's, his Cardinals, and his Prelates to rule in his Name and by his Laws and Edicts, Canons and Constitutions to govern the people in those his Kingdoms?

So shall Christ reign over all the Nations and Kingdoms of the World whom he shall Conquer, and they shall become his. Rev. 11.5. And HE shall be King of all the Earth, Zach. 14.9. And God shall give him the Throne of his Father David, Luk. 1.32.33. And the Judgement shall be given to the Saints of the most high, and they shall possess the Kingdom, and govern the Nations by Christs Laws, Dan. 7.14, 21, 27. and in his Name, and by his Commission with his holy Spirit and power, and in great glory. Isa. 60.1, 2, 3, 7, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. Arise, shine, for thy Light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee— The Sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee, and all they that despised thee, shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet, and they shall call thee the City of the LORD, the Zion of the holy one of Israel— Whereas thou hast been forsaken p. 75and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal Excellency and Joy of many Generations: from the beginning of the thousand years Reign, Rev. 20.4. until the end thereof, which is Christs Davidical and Monarchical Kingdom. And after that Christ hath put down all Rule, all Authority and all power that are his Enemies, by the hands of his Saints, who shall bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron, and execute the Judgement written, This honour have all the Saints, Psal. 149.7, 8, 9. Then will the Lord Jesus Christ himself come in his own person, and all his holy Angels and Saints shall attend him, Matth. 25.31, 32. When the Son of Man shall come in his glory and all the Holy Angels with him, then shall he sit upon the Throne of his glory— And before him shall be gathered all Nations, and he shall separate them one from another, as a Shepheard divideth his Sheep from the Goats. Then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory, and the Saints shall sit upon Thrones with Christ, Matth. 19.28. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me in the Regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit on the Throne of his Glory: Ye also shall sit upon twelve Thrones, judging the twelve Tribes of Israel. Rev. 3.21. To him that overcometh p. 76will I grant to sit with me in my Throne, even also as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne.

This personal coming of Christ had its typical vision and mystical appearance at his Transfiguration, Matth. 17.1, 2, 9. And after six dayes Jesus taketh Peter, James and John his Brethren, and bringeth them up into an high Mountain, and was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the Sun, and his raiment was white as the Light. And as they came down from the Mountain, Jesus charged them saying, Tell the Vision to no man until the Son of Man rise again from the dead. Those Apostles Peter, James and John his Brother, were they of whom Christ spake, Matth. 16.27, 28. For the Son of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father, with his Angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works — Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here which shall not taste of Death till they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom. And Peter being one of those three, bare his Testimony and Record thereof, 2 Pet. 1.16, 17, 18. For we have not followed cunningly devised Fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were Eye-witnesses of his Majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such p. 77a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased — And this Voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy Mount. And it shall be visible indeed, Mat. 24.27. For as the Lightning cometh out of the East, and shineth even unto the West, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be, Acts 1.11. He shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven. And very glorious; For Christ shall come in the Glory of his Father, Mark 8.38. In his own glory, and his Fathers, Luk. 9.26. In the glory of the holy Angels also, Matth. 25.31. and likewise in the glory of all his Saints, 2 Thes. 1.7, 8, 9, 10.

Then shall Christ the King of Saints, the King of Sion, and the King of Nations be admired of all them that believe, 2 Thes. 1.10. and praised, saying, Who would not fear Thee O King of Nations, Jer. 10.7, 10. The Blessed and only Potentate, the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, 1 Tim. 6.15. Then also shall the Saints be glorified, Phil. 3.20, 21. For, our Conversation is in Heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ — Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body, &c. 1 Joh. 3.2. Behold now we are the Sons of God, and it doth not appear what p. 78we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is: and Rewarded, Rev. 22.12. Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me, Matth. 25.34. Come ye blessed of my Father, receive the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World.

Then wicked men and wicked Angels shall by Christ and his Saints be judged according to their Deeds, 1 Cor. 6.2. Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the World? ver. 3. Know ye not that we shall judge Angels? and 2 Tim. 4.1. I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his Kingdom. And then shall Christ deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father, 1 Cor. 15.24, 28. That as Christ is now All and in All Col. 3.11. so God the Father then shall be All in All, 1 Cor. 15.28. Thus much Negatively.

Affirmatively. That the coming of Christ in the 6 and 10 verses of this Chapter is his virtual, spiritual, powerful and glorious appearance in his Saints and Sanction (As the Bridegroom of his Church the New Jerusalem, the holy City, the general Assembly and Church of the first born, written in Heaven, who also shall come down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her husband) p. 79and in his Davidical Kingdom on Earth.

For proof of this my opinion, search those places of holy Scripture, Isa. 60.2, 3, 7, 13. Psal. 110.1, 3. 2 Thes. 1.10. Rev. 14.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Heb. 12.23. Rev. 21.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. — For behold darkness shall cover the Earth and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seen upon thee — And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and Kings to the brightness of thy rising — All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the Rams of Nebajoth shall minister unto thee, they shall come up with acceptance on mine Altar, And I will beautifie the house of my glory; the Glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir-tree, the pine-tree and the Box together to beautifie the place of my Sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine Enemies thy footstool. Thy People shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the Beauties of holiness from the Womb of the morning, thou hast the dew of thy youth— When he shall come to be glorified in his Father, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our p. 80testimony among you was believed) in that day— And I looked and loe a Lamb on the Mount Sion, and with him an hundred Forty four thousand having his Fathers Name written in their foreheads — And I heard a voice from Heaven as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder; and I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their harps. And they sung as it were a new Song before the Throne, and before the four Beasts, and the Elders, and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which are not defiled with Women, for they are Virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the Throne of God. To the General Assembly and Church of the first Born which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirits of just men made perfect. And I saw a new Heaven, and a new Earth, for the first Heaven, and the first Earth passed away, and there was no more Sea. And I John saw the holy City New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband. And I heard a great Voice out of Heaven, saying, Behold p. 81the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. And he that sate upon the Throne said, Behold I make all things new, And he said unto me write, for these words are true and faithful. Read Isa. chapt. 62. particularly ver. 5. Christ not in his own person, but by his substitutes, doth marry his Church, so shall thy sons marry thee.

Go ye out to meet Him. The Virgins went out before and that of their own accord, and very early too; But now they are called out, and that by a loud voice, and are commanded, Go ye out to meet him. They who at first were so forward, are now at last so backward, that they must be provoked, stirred up, yea rouzed out of their slumbering, sleepy, careless security, and commanded if not compelled to go out again to meet the Bridegroom.

The Spouse of Christ said within her self, Cant. 3.2. I will rise now, I will seek him whom my soul loveth. And she said to her Beloved, Come my Beloved, Let us go up early to the Vineyards, there will I give thee my Loves, p. 82Cant. 7.11, 12. But for all this her fervency, she cooled in her spiritual Affections towards Christ, was sleepy and indisposed for spiritual communion with her Beloved, she framed excuses, being lazy and loth to open the door, though she heard him call her, and knew his voice, Cant. 5.2, 3. I sleep but my heart waketh, it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me my Sister, my Love, my Dove, my Ʋndefiled, for my head is filled with the dew, and my Locks with the drops of the night. And I have put off my Coat how shall I put it on, I have washed my feet how shall I defile them.

It hath been hinted in the Exposition of the first verse, in what respects the Virgins went out at first to meet the Bridegroom.

Let us consider what is further intended and here Commanded them in these words, Go ye out to meet him.

By going out again to meet the Bridegroom, we may here understand three things, 1. A Rising and shaking off all security, carelesness and indisposition, to watch and wait for the appearance of Christ, Rom. 13.11, 12, 13, 14. And that knowing the time that now is, it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we Believed — The night is far spent, the day is at hand, Let us therefore p. 83cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the whole armour of God. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the Lust thereof.

2. A recovering themselves out of their Backsliding and Apostatizing condition, by Prayer, Repentance and Reformation, Jer. 3.12, 13, 14, 22. Go and proclaim these words towards the North and say, Return thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. — Only acknowledge thou thine Iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy wayes to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice saith the LORD. Turn O backsliding Children saith the LORD, for I am married unto you, and I will take you one of a City, and two of a Family, and I will bring you to Zion. — Return ye Backsliding Children, and I will heal your Backslidings. Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the LORD our God, Hos. 14.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Read the whole Chapter.

p. 843. A preparing to meet the Lord, Amos 4.12. 2 Chron. 30.19. Prepare to meet thy God O Israel. — That prepareth his heart to seek God the LORD God of his Fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the Purification of his Sanctuary. Luk. 1.17. To make ready a people prepared for the Lord. So did those Virgins, the foolish seemingly, the wise sincerely, vers. 7. Then all those Virgins arose and trimmed their Lamps.

1. Meditation. There will be a Midnight Dispensation of Mystical and Spiritual darkness upon Professors, Isa. 60.2. Darkness shall cover the Earth and gross darkness the people, &c. Distress and perplexity, and great Tribulation upon the Inhabitants of the Earth, Luk. 21.25, 26, 27. There shall be upon the Earth distress of Nations with perplexity; Mens hearts failing them for fear, &c. Matth. 24.21, 29. And too great security, formality and drowsiness upon some of the wife Virgins, sanctified Believers, before the coming of the Lord Jesus in his Kingdom here on Earth, Matth. 26.40. What, could you not watch with me one hour? 41. Watch and pray, &c. Rev. 3.3. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Cant. 5.2, 3. I have put off my Coat how shall I put it on, &c. p. 85Matth. 24.37, 38, 39. & Luk. 17.26, 30. As it was in the dayes of Noah and Lot, so shall it be in the dayes of the Son of Man. So shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. Even thus it shall be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed, Luk. 17.30.

2. Meditation. That there will be such a voice of the LORD, such a voice from the City, and from the Temple, such a loud Cry in the Time of the Midnight Dispensation, that will awake and rouze up all the slumbering and sleeping Virgins, Isa. 66.6. A voice of noise from the City, a voice from the Temple, a voice of the LORD that rendreth recompence to his Enemies, Rev. 11.12. And they (the slain or despirited Witnesses, ver. 7.) heard a great voice from Heaven, saying, Come up hither, Joel 3.6. Jehovah also shall roar out of Sion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem.

3. Meditation. That the next glorious appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ will be his virtual and spiritual coming in his Saints and Sanction (as the Bridegroom of his Church) to marry her by her Sons, Isa. 62.4, 5. and by them to reign over the Nations with power and great glory a thousand years here on Earth, Dan. 7.27.

There are but three special kinds and times of Christs coming. 1. His coming in the p. 86form of a servant in the dayes of his flesh, Phil. 2.7. 2. His coming as a Judge at the last day, when he shall judge the quick and the dead, 2 Tim. 4.1. called his appearing the second time, Heb. 9.28. Both these are his personal appearances or his coming in his own person. But between these two appearances or comings of Christ in his own person, there is witnessed by the Holy Prophets and Apostles, and recorded in the holy Scripture of truth, another kind of Christs coming at another time. And that is his coming as the Bridegroom, and as the only Potentate, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, 1 Tim. 6.14, 15. Rev. 19.16. which is his virtual, spiritual, powerful and glorious coming in his Saints and Sanction, and by them to marry his Jerusalem, Isa. 62.4, 5. so shall thy sons marry thee, and with them to reign over the Nations and Kingdoms of the World, a thousand years on Earth, Rev. 11.15, 16, 17. And the seventh Angel sounded, and there were great voices in Heaven, saying, The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty Elders which sate before God on their seats, fell upon their faces and worshipped God, saying, We give the thanks O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and p. 87art to come, because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast reigned. Rev. 19.1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of many Thunderings, saying, Alleluja, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, give honour to him, for the Marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made her self ready, Rev. 20.4, 5, 7, 9. And I saw Thrones, and they that sate upon them, and Judgement was given unto them. And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the Witness …f Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the Beast, neither his Image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands, and they lived and …eigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest …f the dead lived not again until the thousand …ears were finished. This is the first Resurrecti…n— And when the thousand years are ex…ired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison— And they went upon the Breadth of the Earth, …nd compassed the Camp of the Saints about, …nd the Beloved City, and Fire came down from God out of Heaven and devoured them.

4. Meditation. It is the Duty of all Vir…in-professors, especially sanctified Believers, …ho are wife Virgins, to go out and meet the …ridegroom, when he comes by his spiritual p. 88power and glory in his Saints and Sanction, to set up his Kingdom and to reign on Farth.

First, The Lord Jesus Christ who is King of Saints, Rev. 15.3, King of Zion, Psal. 149.1, 2. and the King of Nations, Jer. 10.7 shall be the only Potentate, 1 Tim. 6.14, 15. and King of all the Earth, Zach. 14.9. And all the Kingdoms of the World shall be his, Rev. 11.15. and his Saints, Dan. 7.14, 22, 27. And they shall reign with Christ on Earth a thousand years, Rev. 5.10 and Rev. 20.4.

Secondly, The God of Heaven will set u… this Kingdom of Christ and his Saints in th… dayes of those Kings of the fourth Monarchy that oppose him and his Saints, Da… 2.24. And give it unto Christ as he is th… Son of David, Luk. 1.32, 33. He shall b… great and shall be called the Son of the highe… and the Lord God shall give unto him t… Throne of his Father David, and he shall reig… over the house of Jacob for ever, and of … Kingdom there shall be no End. —A… unto the Saints of the most high. Dan. 7.2… And the Kingdom and Dominion, and … greatness of the Kingdom under the wh… Heaven shall be given to the people of … Saints of the most high, whose Kingd… is an Ev…rlasting Kingdom, and all Do… nions shall serve and obey him, who sh… p. 89take it and possess it a thousand years.

Thirdly, When Christ comes to set up his Kingdom and to reign on Earth Virtually and Spiritually in his Saints and Sanction, with power and great glory; It's the Duty of all Virgin-professors, especially sanctified Believers, who are wise Virgins to go out to meet the Bridegroom, ver. 6.

To meet the Bridegroom implies, 1. To be walking in the same way of Truth, wherein Christ comes, viz. To own that truth, and to witness unto that truth of the Kingdom, and power, and Glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, against the Kingdom, power, and Glory of Antichrist, which is the finishing Testimony of all the faithful Witnesses of Christ, Rev. 11.7. And when they shall have finished their Testimony, the Beast that ascendeth out of the Bottomless pit shall make war against them and overcome them and kill them. Which Testimony is that Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ that must be preached in all the World for a Witness unto all Nations, Matth. 24.14.

2. To meet the Bridegroom implyes a progress and going on in that way of truth without weariness, fainting, sitting down and slumbering, Isa. 40.28, 29, 30, 31. Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard that the Everlasting God is LORD, the Creator of p. 90the Ends of the Earth fainteth not, neither is weary. There is no searching of his understanding— He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might be increaseth strength. Even the youth shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fail: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, and they shall walk and not faint.

3. To meet the Bridegroom implyes a diligent and continual watching and waiting for the virtual, spiritual, powerful and glorious appearance of Christ the Bridegroom, Isa. 26.8, 9. Yea in the way of thy Judgements have we waited, O LORD have we waited for thee: The Desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the Remembrance of thee, in the night, yea with my Spirit within me will I seek thee Early; For when thy Judgements are in the Earth, the Inhabitants of the World will learn Righteousness. Habak. 2.3, 4. For the Vision is for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lye: though it tarry, wait for it, because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold, his soul which is lifted up, is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith. Matth. 25.13. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day, nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh.