The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 1 · Chapter 20 · Section 2
SECT. II.
II. A Fulness of Illumination in the room of darkness.
BUT let it be first noted that I speak not here of Revelations of future Events. When Virgin-Churches shall fall a dreaming, 'tis a sign they fall a sleeping. Nor of revelation of new Doctrines, nor yet of the Love of Christ and assurance thereof; but of the Person of Christ, a work common to all the Elect, and not peculiar to some, for Christ may not appear in his promise of love for a time to a sincere heart, yet this is then wrought. I shall therefore express my thoughts herein in four Conclusions.
1. That all unregenerate men are under the power of darkness,Conclu. 1. of ignorance, Eph. 5. 8. You were darknesse in the abstract, Eph. 4. 18. So that they cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2. 14. Especially the Lord Jesus, for the knowledge of him is above nature, not only corrupted but pure nature. Nay though the Lord gives the best and clearest means of revealing himself, yet they cannot see, John 1. 5. Light shined in darknesse, and it comprehended him not, no more than he whose visive faculty is lost, when the Sun shines round about him. Nay, that light which is in them is darkness, Mat. 6. 23. And then how great is that darkness? For many men might have known Christ, but that they thought they did know him before, and so are delivered up in these chains of darkness to the Prince of darkness, but are like wilderness-shrubs, shall never see when good comes. Ministers (as Christ did) may mourn over them, but can never help them until the Lord pull off their scales. For they please themselves in darkness, and love it more than light, and are not as Paul, praying and mourning under the Scales that are upon their eyes.
2. That there is a state of light to which God calls his people only;Conclu. 2. or rather, that there is a spirit of Light, Illumination or Revelation let into the mind, which is Peculiar to the Beloved of Christ, 1 Pet. 2. 9. As of other things, so especially of the Lord Jesus, 2 Cor. 4. 4, 5, 6. And 'tis so Glorious a work that Christ himself admires the Father, and stands in a ravishment at it, Mat. 11. 25. To Babes, uncapable of all others of knowledge; yet to them doth the Lord reveal some things that the wisest in the world never knew. I do believe that the greatest Scholar that ever lived, never had one such thought or apprehension of the Lord and the things of the Lord, as the Saints have. And hence Christ professeth, oh blessed are your eyes that they see; and themselves bless him, and fall a wondring many times, Lord why dost manifest thy self to us, and not to the world? And therefore 'tis an injury to the Grace of God, to make precious things common, and all the work of the Spirit on the understanding to be common to Reprobates, and to say, the difference lies only in the work of the Spirit upon the will, John 6. 45. He that hath heard and learned of the Father, comes to me. If the Learning of the Father be common to a Reprobate, then either they may come to Christ, which is there denied, or Christs promise is false, for then a carnal heart may hear and learn of the Father, and never come to Christ.
That notwithstanding 'tis thus with them, yet foolish Virgins may have some light in their Lamp; some sight and knowledge of Jesus Christ.Conclus. 3. It is said we live in dayes of light, and so indeed we do, but as the Lord said to them that had seen his Miracles, yet the Lord had not given them eyes to see to this day; they were inlightned yet fell, Hebr. 6. 4. I shall therefore speak not of the revelation of all the Word, but of Christ the end of it, and the knowledge of whom comprehends all the rest.
1. There is a knowledge of Christ in many a man which is begot by common fame, and humane private instruction, which men hearing from credible men, conceive of and believe; As that Christ is the Saviour of the World, is come, is dead, is risen, is at Gods right hand, that in him Gods justice and mercy is reconciled, that there is mercy with him for the greatest of all sinners, &c. And according as men are more or less instructed; so do men conceive and beleeve. But now this knowledge is but traditional, and begot by common fame and humane report, like Herods, that heard many things of Christ, and yet indeed despised him. The Lord I know doth make use of this to cause the soul to come to further sight of him, as in the Queen of Sheba, but its far enough off from giving any saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus; and hence Iohn 1. 46. when they had been with Christ, they do not wish them to rest in the report, but Come and see; so you hear of these things, but come and see these things. You have learned them from man come unto the Lord that he may teach them; and hence we shall see many of the people of God that have been put to a Question of all things that ever they learned, and learnt them over again; as, Whether there be a Christ or no, &c. And they never saw these things indeed, until the Lord taught them a second time; hence therefore those that have been thus trained up, and have been troubled and comforted by some conceived promises of Christ, but never saw any more of his person, then what you have learned before; Your eyes are closed up to this day.
2. If any man should see and behold Christ really, immediatly, this is not the saving knowledge of him. I know the Saints do know Christ as if immediatly present, they are not strangers by their distance, if others have seen him more immediatly I will not dispute it, but if they have seen the Lord Jesus as immediatly as if here on earth, yet Capernaum saw him so; nay, some of them were Disciples for a time, and followed him, Iohn 6. and yet the Lord was hid from their eyes; nay all the world shall see him in his glory which shall amaze them, and yet this is far short of the saving knowledge of him, which the Lord doth communicate to the Elect. So that though you see the Lord so really as that you become familiar with him, yet Luke 13. 26. Lord have we not eat and drunk, &c. And so perish.
3. A man may see the Lord in his wonderful works, and glorious kingdome and government, and yet not know him savingly, wondrous deliverances, preservations of himself, and of Gods people, dreadful destruction of enemies, such as they cannot but say, This is the finger of the Lord, and yet know not, Deut. 29. 1, 2, 3, 4. And hence Iohn 15. 24. and hence men think such things are done, and shall I ever be vile again, yet they become as bad as ever.
4. He may see the Lord Jesus yet more clearly by the letter of the Scripture, which though it brings to the saving knowledge of Christ, yet to see the Lord Jesus no otherwise then by the strength of fancy and understanding, from thence is no saving knowledge of Jesus Christ; and hence Rom. 16. 26. the Mystery of the Gospel was hid from the Jews, but now 'tis revealed to all Nations; literally, to all where it comes, savingly to some few. For between the saving knowledge of Christ in the Gospel, and palpable ignorance of him in the Gospel, there is this middle knowledge which is literal, whereby a man doth see, yet in seeing, sees …t, Isai. 6. 9. which is the St…e of a Church which hath been long trained up under good means; And hence we shall see many men of great learning have been able to wr…e Volumes of the Mystery of Christ, and yet in seeing …ver ….
5. There may be in a false heart a strange knowledge of Christ without Script…res, which may ravish a mans … heart strangely, which is usually the first Temptation of the Virgin-Churches, that are of much knowledge, and little love, 2 Cor. 11. 2, 3, 4. Wherein Satan doth no… seek to pull away men to forsake the Gospel, but from the simplicity of the Gospel, Repe…t, and beleeve, and …e …, For saith he, … is transfor…ed …to an Ang…l of light: And hence we have heard that some have heard voices, some have seen the very blood of Christ dropping on them, and his wounds in his side, some have seen a great light shining in the Chamber, some wonderfully affected with their dreams, some in great distress have had inward witness, Thy sins ar… forgi…en; and he…ce such liberty and joy that they are ready to leap up and down the Chamber: O adulterous genera…ion… This is natural and usual with men, they would …ain see Jesus, and have him present to give them peace; and hence Papists have his Image; and hence Christ gives the S…crament to shew himself as familiarly as can be. Hence Th… m… would not beleeve, … be might put his finger in his side, and the Lord tendred him, yet pronounced them …lessed, th… h…ve not seen, and yet beleeved, Joh. 20. 29. So I say …, Wo to them that have no other manifested Christ, but such a one. Little do you think what wrong you do to Christ, for you do as much as in you lies Eclipse all his glory at the last day, as the wicked by their sins Eclipse his glory at this day. 2 The….1. 10. He shall be admired in all that beleeve. Why? Because our Testimony was …leeved▪ That Faith which closeth with, and sees Christ in a Testimony, is tha… whereby Jesus shall be admired at the worlds end.
That the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ is this,Concl. 4. Whereby the soul being sensible of his Ignorance of Jesus, beholds such a glory in Christs person, as that he esteems him in all his glory, as his present, greatest, and only good. I will take this in pieces.
1. I say …hat soul which hath truly and savingly seen the Lord Jesus, hath been made sensible of his ignorance of him; I see him not, I have heard of him, and …ead of him, and taken his Name into my mouth, and professed him; and I beleeve others see him, and blessed are their eyes, but I see him not, Iohn 9. 26, …7, 39. For … I c…me into this world, and look as all the increase of the knowledge of Christ comes in by this door, so the beginning of it, and therefore those that have been cast down and he…rd of Christ a Saviour, but never felt their ign…ance of him before they have apprehended him, their light is darkness, and their knowledge full of delusion and idolatrous.
2. It beholds a glory in Christs person, for before the Lord reveals his Son to any, look what he was to the Jews he is to every man, Isai. 53. 2, 3. He is rejected and despised of …, nothing so mean as Christ, every vanity preferred above him, and men can do no other, because they see not his glory and beauty, 1 Cor. 2. 8. If they had …, &c. Therefore the Lord reveals his hidden glory to th…m, such as never entred into their hearts before, or into the minds of other men, which though others may talk of, yet they cannot see it in that manner as they do; it is c…ed therefore … light which he doth reveal, when the soul hath been viewing its own shame and filth, when all the grass and glory is withered, Is…. 40. 6. then the glory of Christ is revealed; One every way so fit and suitable to them, according to all their wants and woes, by some Sermon or other, which when the soul doth see, it usually fills the head, and heart, and eyes with …. Oh that I have despised him so glorious! Acts 2. 36, 37. 2 Cor. 4. 5, 6. If the soul should not feel its ign…ance of him, it would never esteem the fight of him, but now it doth thus, and now that Glory is revealed, Iohn 1. 14. We beheld his Glory as the Glory of the only begotten S…n. In every Truth there is a Glory which men see not, and this is called in Scripture, the finding of the Pearle, Ma…. 13. 45.
III. He so beholds him in his Glory, as that he now esteems of him in all his Glory. For a Bala… may see the Glory of the Tents of Israel; and the Star of Iacob, but they esteem not of him in all his Glory. The damned in Hell see a Glory in Christ, else they would never grieve for the loss of him, but 'tis only in regard of somthing in Christ, delivering Saints from sorrows they feel. Nay many Reprobates under a lively Ministry, shall see some Glory in Christ and in Saints, to think them the happy men, yet not esteem of him in all his Glory; but 'tis otherwise here. The Lord ariseth as the Sun upon the earth, which makes all things that have any Glory to appear therein, and it puts a Glory on every thing, that was hid before. So Christ puts a Glory on every thing of himself: So that,
1. The soul sees a Glory in the Grace of Christ, Iohn 1. 14. For the Glory of Christs Person is not seen without these excellencies, Luke 1. 46. My soul … the Lord.
2. A Glory in the Holiness of Christ, Isa. 6. 3. Especially to consider, it's in him to make me holy, 2 Cor. 3. 18.
3. A Glory in his Covenant and Promises, Psal. 45. 1, 2. Oh that all those Promises might be made good to me! This is all my desire, 2 Sam. 23. 5.
4. A Glory in the Government and Commands and Will of Christ. Oh if once I could in every thing give content to his heart… Psal. 19. 10. Th…t the soul had rather lose all than cross his will in a small thing, seeing a Glory in the least Truth, in casting off a Ceremony, &c. Zach. 6. 13.
5. A Glory in all the Ordinances of Christ. Oh how amiable are thy Ta…ernacles oh God! Oh the Fellowship of Saints! Oh the peace on Sabbath…!
6. A …lory in all his carriage. Let him bless me with outward estate, though but a little. This is the allowance that Christ in Glory provides for …. Let him threaten me, good is the Word of the Lord. Let him desert me, his anger is love: Oh that is Glorious! Let him take all from me, reproach me, Moses esteems Christs reproach greater riches than Egypt, which is our estate here. It sees a Glory in all Christs waies, and quiets it self here, it is the Lord, as Eli said. Thus Saints see and esteem of Christ in all his Glory, and we shall find a false hea…t ever falls short here, a sincere heart never, but commonly is so taken up with it, that if you ask, suppose you should have all Grace, Holiness, Promises of Christ, &c. Would not this be mercy? Yes, enough: I should then boast in him, and bless him for ever. And hence Christ is called, L…ke 2. 33. the Glory of Israel, because they so esteem him. And Isa. 28. 5. In that day the Lord shall be a Diadem of Glory. Others may in horrour pri…e Christ above the world, but 'tis only to ease them.
IV. I add, he esteems him thus,
1. As his present good; so that if the Lord doth withdraw or deny himself, now unto him no…hing in this world can for the present quiet him, Ier. 50. 4, 5. Hence those in their judgments acknowledge Christ the greatest good, and when they are dying, and see he will be so at last day, yet now for the present a little more liberty in sin, sloath, lust, honour, gain, Lots, large accomodations are …. You never saw him. Oh vile world! the Lord will one day condemn … out of thine own mouth; thy own will was more dear to thee than his; this worlds ease better than his peace, &c. When you … on your Death-beds, you esteem him then. Why? Because serves your turn then: Hence before you did not.
2. As the greatest good, Deut. 33. 26. Ier. 10. 7. Hence those that see some good in Christ and desire him, and offer fair for him, but prize him not as the greatest good: And hence with the young man, though content to part with somwha…, not with all▪ they will cast their rags down at Christs feet, and intreat him to take away their sins; but will not cast their Crowns down, the dea… est things they have: And hence the thorny-ground-Profes…ors ever fall away. The good things of this world which they forsook in time of persecution, were dearer than Christ, and hence they fall away. 'Tis a dishonour to a King to be valued as other men are, Zach. 11. 12, 13.
3. As the only good, Isa. 24. 23. The Sun shall be confounded, &c. And though other things may steal into their hearts for a time, yet they recover themselves; this is the one thing, Psal. 27. 4. that they beg in this life. And hence do fall short,
1. Those that esteem Christ as men do Merchandise; they would fain have it, but are loath to fetch it. Men may esteem Christ, as they think, the only good; but herein their falseness appears, that they neglect means to it, because they have some good else to quiet them. And here is condemned all lazy Profession.
2. Those that would have Christ, and esteem him highly, and use means for him diligently, but they must have Christ, and world, and lust, and ease too: Christ to quiet their Consciences, and the world their hearts; Christ to rest on, when their duties fail them, and world to rest in, when the Consolations of Christ are denied unto them. The L…d is good, go up and possesse it.
1. But do the Saints come to this pitch?Object.
2 Cor. 4. 3. If our Gospel be hid, Answ.'tis hid to them that be lost. Who are those from whom Christ is hid? When is he hid? When his Glory is hid. I know Saints may feel a want of, and mou…r for it, but it will appear if they are the Lords, at some time. Nay this they will find, some and much contempt remaining which they oppose, yet this is here, and at parting times it is seen.
…. But Saints cannot know this.Object.
Yes (as well as they can know their contempt) by means of Gods Spirit,Answ. he … carried from one contrary to another shall know it.
…. But Hypocrit… may attain to this.Object.
…. Then the …ospel may be revealed to an hypocrite and to them that are …ost.Answ.
2. Then they may believe; for to them only the Lord is precious, 1 Pet. 2. 7. Then a … is pre…ous, when we value it according to the worth of it. Now the Lord is the greatest and only good… and then when we esteem him so; this is the … of Believe… only.
3. Then Christ may be a … Treasure. For that is our treasure which we esteem most.
4. Then a carnal heart may honour Christ with one of the highest degrees of honour, which consists in this high esteem, Luke 1. 46. My soul magnifies the L…d.
5. Observe we, tha… never any lost Christ but because they undervalued him. …, and take the …. That it shall lie upon you one day, oh if Christ had had that … which lust and world hath had, I had had him now… Examine, if it be thus, if you thus see and prize the Lord Jesus. Oh be thankful that ever the Lo… sent … Messenger to … Christ! If not, oh go and mourn! Paul did s… three …, … 9. when …e saw nothing. Oh Christ hath been long …id from thee. Oh … this; but … about for it, for else that in Mat. 23. 39. shall be … portion.