The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
SECT. I.
THese words are part of our Saviours Answer unto two solemn questions which his Disciples propounded unto him, Chap. 24.v. 3. The first was concerning the destruction of the Temple at Ierusalem. The second concerning the sign of his coming, and so of the end of the world. The first seems to be occasioned by our Saviours speech, c. 24.v. 2. The second from his speech, c. 23.v. 39. To the first therefore he answers, from the 4th v. of the 24th ch. to the 23d v. of it. To the second he answereth from the 23d v. of the same chap. to end of this 25th chap. Wherein he acquaints them,
1. With some things which shall be before his coming, viz. subtill and strong delusions, mixt with sore tribulations and oppressions, especially in the time of Antichrist's raigne, as also great confusions, in all hearts and Churches, if not throughout all the world after the tribulation of those daies; And then (saith he) v. 30. shall appear the sign of the Son of man, and he shall be seen coming in power and great Glory; but if you desire farther to know the day and hour when this shall be, 'tis such a secret as my Father revealeth not to any, no, not to the very Angels in Heaven, and therefore you need not know it, nor yet should seek to know it; 'tis sufficient for you to know that before my coming there shall be lamentable and sad times, and that when they are at their worst, that the Sun and the Moon (through the horrours of mens hearts, and the universal confusions in the world) shall seem to be darkned, &c. that then it is time for me to come, and set all in order again, then the time of my coming drawes nigh: Now this Christ doth from v. 23. of the 24th chap. to v. 37.
2. Having thus spoken concerning his coming, he breaks off his speech in describing his coming, and fals to discovering the state of the times toward, and about the days of his coming, and this he doth from c. 24. v. 37. to c. 25. v. 31. by the consideration of which he perswades to watchfulnesse against his coming. 1. Either (saith he) the times will be very sensuall and degenerate, as in the daies of Noah, in some places of the world, c. 24. v. 38. which he illustrates from two Parables, perswading therefore to watchfulnesse, to the end of the 24th chap. 2. Or there will be great security in other places, and among other persons (not given up to sensuality as in the daies of Noah, but) who are the chast, Virgin, pure Churches of the world, not defiled with the whoredoms in the world; and this our Saviour unfolds in this Parable. 3. Or if any be awakened (as some shall) to look for Christ's coming, yet among these, some through hard conceits of the Lord Jesus, shall be wilfully carelesse, and not improve their Talents for the sake and use of the Lord Jesus, and this is set down in the next Parable of the ten Talents, from v. 14. to v. 31. You see therefore where this Parable stands, and to what purpose it is brought in. In which are two things.
SECT. II.
1. THe Parable it self, concerning the ten Virgins, from v. 1. to v. 13.
2. The scope of the Parable, v. 13. which is to perswade not simply to watchfulnesse, but to continuance and perseverance in it from a prudent foresight of the coming of Christ.
1. The Parable it self is set down, agreeable to the custom of those times wherein our Saviour lived, wherein their Marriages were usually celebrated in the night time, she that was the Bride was attended with sundry Virgins to meet the Bridegroom; these Virgins (it being night season) took therefore their Lamps with them; those that were ready, and met the Bridegroom, were admitted to the Marriage-Room and Supper; those that came after that time, if once the doors were shut, weresurely kept out, though they knockt hard to come in. All this, those who are acquainted with Iewish Histories and customs know to be true, which we are to attend, because it gives not a little light to the true and genuine explication of this Parable.
In which Parable note these two parts.
1. The Churches preparation to meet with Christ (called here the Bridegroom) from the 1 to the 5 vers.
2. The Bridegroom's coming forth to meet them, from the 5 to the 12 vers.
SECT. III.
The first part of the Parable.
FIrst, I shall speak of the preparation made by the Church to meet with Christ Jesus. Wherein also note these three things.
1. The place where this preparation is made, viz. in the Kingdom of Heaven, vers. 1.
2. The time when it shall be made, set down in the first word, Then, v. 1.
3. The persons that shall make this preparation, they shall not be corrupted Members of degenerate Churches, where mens profession is grown foul through length of wearing; but they are Professors of some eminent strain, some whereof are truly sincere, others secretly unsound. And there is a double desription of them. 1. From some things wherein they all agree. 2. From some other particulars wherein they manifestly differ;
First, Those things wherein they all agree are three.
1. They are all Virgins; Virgin-Professors.
2. They were all awake and watchful for some time, ready to meet the Bridegroom, and hence it it is said, They took their Lamps.
3. They all had so much Faith as to go out to meet the Bridegroom. Secondly, Those things wherein they did differ, are,
1. Generally, five were wise, and five were foolish, v. 2.
2. Specially, the foolish took Lamps but no Oyl, the wise did both, v. 3, 4.
This is the rude draught of this first part of the Parable, the sum whereof is this, That the state of the Members of some Churches about the time of Christ's coming, shall be this, they shall not be openly prophane, corrupt and scandalous, but Virgin-Professors, awakened (for some season) out of carnal security, stirring, lively Christians, not preserving their Chastity and Purity meerly in a way of works, but waiting for Christin a Covenant of Grace, only some of these, and a good part of these, shall be indeed wise, stored with spiritual wisdom, fil…'d with the power of Grace; but others of them, and a great part of them too, shall be found foolish at the coming of the Lord Jesus.
I come therefore to handle the first Particular in this first Part, viz.