The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 1 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
Sheweth that the Soul that will enjoy Communion with Christ, must be divorced from all other Lords, particularly from Lusts, and from the Law. The manner of its Espousalsunto Christ.
SECT. I.
NOw therefore to come to the Third thing; the persons that make this preparation are set forth, 1. In what they all agree in, and that is, first in that they are all Virgins; What are these? Ans. To omit the Popish Interpretation of their Nuns, and mock-Virgins.
I shall rather make use of Scripture to give light to interpret this place; for opening of it, know, the whole Church may be called the Spouse of Christ, and take every member alone, a Virgin attending on this Spouse, Psal. 45. nay the Apostle, 2. Cor. 11. 2. calls the whole Church a Virgin, so that by Virgins are meant whole particular Churches of Christ, together with the several Members thereof. Now Virgins are such as are fit for marriage, and not defiled with any man, as it's said of Rebecca: so by Virgins are meant those that are not polluted within, or without with the evils of the world, Rev. 14. 4. but more is to be understood here, 2 Cor. 11. 2. when once marriage is come, they cease to be Virgins, and are Wives; yet when espoused to Christ, now they are spiritually Virgins; hence these here are only like to Virgins: so that the meaning of Virgins is this; by Virgins is meant such Churches, or members of Churches as are divorced from all other Lovers, and matcht only to Jesus Christ: these only look for the coming of Christ, and communion with him, these only are received into communion.
SECT. II.
WHoever look for everlasting Communion with the Bridegroom of the Church,Obs. 1. Iesus Christ, must be Virgins Divorced from all others▪ and Espoused only to Iesus Christ.
Here were indeed foolish ones among these, yet as foolish and blind as they were, they saw that this was the way, to be like the wise, to be Virgins as well as they, Psal. 45. 10, 11. Ier. 3. 19, 20. as a Wife departs, so ye; but how shall I put thee among the Children, &c. you shall call me my Father, i. e. one instead of all other things, and shall not turn aside from me, Hos. 2. 23. there is their communion; Hence the Lord will, 1. take away the names of Baa…im; 2. Betroth them to himself.
SECT. III.
WHat is it to be divorced from all other Lovers?Quest. 1.
Idolatry is called Whoredom in Scripture, and this is one thing,Answ. the Soul must be Divorced from, before it can be match'd to the Lord, Hos. 2. 2. I shall not need to press this here; but there are two other things which I shall shew, for there are two things that every man doth before he is espoused to the Lord Jesus; either first he departs and goes a whoring by unlawfully lusting after the creature, Psal. 73. 27. Iames 4. 4. Or 2. He is lawfully married as he thinks unto the Law, Rom. 7. 3, 4. the Law is there compared to a Husband, from which Christ indeed delivers his, yet some will stick to it: either the Soul takes content in some creature more than in Christ, or in some righteousnesse more than in the Lord Jesus; Now to be divorced from all other things, is for the heart to be taken off from all worldly contentments. Secondly, from comforting it self in the bosom of its own work and righteousness, and this must be found in all them that look for communion with the Lord Jesus.
SECT. IV.
1 THe heart must be divorced from Lusts after, and pleasures in any creature; for proof, we must know this:
1. The soul of every man must have something to quiet and comfort it like the stomack, it's death and hell to want it (as the Israelites in the wildernesse:) hence it must have it.
2. That there is nothing that can comfort the thirsty heart, but 'tis either in the spring, or cistern, fountain, or bottles, either in God, or in the creature.
3. Hence man having lost God, and all good there, seeks for it in the creature, and because he finds not enough in one, digs for it in another, Psal. 4. Who will shew us any good? and hence the Soul because it never found that infinite sweetnesse in God himself, hence lusts after, and delights in the creature for it self, loves pleasure for pleasure, delights in creature for the creature, not for God, why should he, seeing he never found content there? and here the soul of man cleaves night and day, committing spiritual whoredom before the face of God; now if ever any soul hath communion with Christ, it must be divorced from all creatures thus, for Lust is a desire after, and content in the creature for the creatures sake.
1 Because while the heart is in league with any creature besides the Lord, 'tis at deadly enmity with the Lord,Reas. 1. Iames 4. 4. If a man hath a rich commodity, and one comes and offers half the worth of it, he takes it as a contempt; if it be not worth this, it is worth nothing; so the Lord is worthy of all our love, our lives, our souls though we had a thousand of them, and will a man not part with his lusts for him? I tell you the Lord takes himself sleighted, contemned, and loathed; if not worth all a mans love, he is worth nothing; now the creature is made a God, because made a mans last end, which is as proper to God, as to make him the Alpha of all. Here the greatest wrath is to give a man his fill of the creature.
2 Because so long the soul cannot see,Reas. 2. nor come by the eye and feer of Faith to the Lord Jesus, Iohn 5. 44. and think Christ better than all; as Birds in a string may fly high, but when they come to the end of the line, fall down there; and so though the soul flies to Christ, yet when indeed it comes to the end of parting withall, it falls down, and falls off from Christ. Whole men have no heart nor desire after Physitians; when all limbs are whole and strong, no desire after Plaisters: so while any thing easeth and contenteth the heart, there is no desire after Christ, Hos. 4. 11. Whoredom and wine have taken away the heart.
3 Because so long the heart if it do come, cannot stay with Christ to do any thing for Christ,Reason 3. Mat. 6. 24. You cannot serve God and riches, i. e. two Masters, who have constant employment, and Christ hath set us such employment. Hence men on sick-beds are tame as may be, promise any thing, because their joy in the creature is gone: Hence on the other side many men after many springings of heart are choaked by thorns of the world.
4. From the abundant love that the Lord Jesus shews to them that ever have,Reason 4. or look for communion with him. Those to whom we shew much love, from those we expect much again. As a man if taken or cast out to be servant, one looks not for love from him; but when a man hath given himself, and made over all his estate to another, now all love is too little. So 'tis with the Lord Jesus, Iohn 6. Will you also depart?
SECT. V.
2 THE soul must be divorced from the Law, i. e. from comforting it self with the righteousnesse thereof: For explication of which we must consider these things.
1. That the Lord doth not ever give a man content in his sins and lusts, but wounds Conscience for the same.
2. That so long as the Lord wounds a mans Conscience for sin, no creature can give a man comfort or content. A wounded spirit who can bear? Iudas casts away his silver pieces; and Belshazzar quakes, who was but even now qua…ing in his cups. As a man that hath an aking tooth, or broken bones, What can comfort him now?
3. Hereupon the Law fals upon a man, or a man meets with the Law; for as all a mans sorrow is upon him because the Law is broken, all a mans care is how he may keep it again. What shall I do? As a man cast in prison for debt, there all is opened; an the Law like an earnest suitor, 1. Presleth hard for love and obedience. 2. Promiseth a rich portion, eternal life, if he can keep it; If not you must be damned; therefore now forsake your sins, &c.
4. Hence the soul not knowing a better Husband, consents and resolves to cleave to it, Rom. 10. 3. Deut. 5. Whatever the Lord will have us do, we will do it; and here it stayes, and is comforted, here it rests; as in Asa his time all rejoyced for the Oath, 2 Chro. 15. Isai. 58. 1, 2. and if it find not perfect comfort because of imperfect work, it then closeth with Christ for to make up and piece up all, Gal. 5. 1. And now I say 'tis comforted in what it hath, and doth, and here it rests; now from hence it must be divorced: What need I prove it, when the Apostle hath so fully, Galat. per totum, and consider the young man, Mat. 19. Divorced, I say, the soul must be from this.
1. Because he that doth thus, sets up another Christ, and makes himself his own Saviour; can the Lord Jesus take such a soul into communion with him? Suppose a Prince be pulled by his people from his Throne, and they set up another pious vertuous Prince to Rule, will this serve the turn to say he is an honest Prince? so though duties be never so good, yet not to advance Christ, is to pull down Christ.
2. Because such persons do commonly most oppose the Lord Jesus in a way of believing, though not in a way of doing; the Lord hath more ado if any of these be brought home, to bring them in, they have somewhat to say for themselves, they have stronger forts, &c. The Scribes and Pharisees rejected the counsel of God against themselves, and hence no people lest to such deep desertions as these; if the Lord intend mercy to them, for they have more need than others.
3. Because hereby a man doth but make a conspiracy against Gods greatest plot that ever he had a foot, viz. to advance his free Grace, Gal. 5. 4. you are fallen from Grace, for nothing makes a man more fit to boast than works, and resting in them; sin makes a man ashamed, and therefore if they come to Heaven, they have laid a foundation to thank themselves for somewhat; hence no communion with Jesus Christ in this frame; no the Lord will tear down this foundation, and make the soul cry guilty, and make this Husband, the Law, to be judge, to examine, and condemn, and now come and ask, what have you to plead for your life and peace, it hath no plea to shew but mércy, &c. it hath its duties evidencing against it.
SECT. VI.
2 THe soul now comes to be Espoused to the Lord Jesus. Quest. How?
The soul beholding the glory of the Lord Jesus,Answ. 1. makes choice of him, as in all Marriage bonds there is a choice made, and if love be great, there is little standing on terms: let me have him though I begg with him; so the soul sees such a sutableness in the Lord Jesus, as that it stands not on terms, let me have him though in prison with him, though in the Garden in Agonies with him, though in the Cross in desertions with him, he is enough; as Peter when he saw Christ on the Sea, desired he might come to him there, Heb. 11. 26. Chusing the reproach of Christ, &c. And look as Christ chuseth the soul, 1. The whole soul. 2. Everlastingly. 3. Above all others: so it makes choice of Christ, whole Christ, Phil. 3. 9. 2. Everlastingly, The Lord is my portion for ever, Psalm 73. 26. And before ever you can look for communion with him, you must make this choice of him, and glad too you may have him on any terms, nay put it to any soul the Lord hath done good to, and ask it, will you have him? 'tis such a mercy I cannot conceive how one so vile as I should have it: have him, the Lord of glory, the Prince of life and peace; O yes; Hence Peter said, Master, what shall we have that have forsaken all, and followed thee? you shall sit with me on Thrones; and look as Christ now chuseth the soul above others, as well as in Heaven, Iohn 15. 16. so it now chuseth Christ, Whom have I in Heaven or earth; many when they think of death, or are dying, then chuse him, but not now: or chuse him for outward blessings, not spiritual favour and life, Iohn 6. 26, 27.
2. The soul hence gives it self like one espoused to her Husband to the Lord Jesus, Cant. 2. 16. I am my beloveds; servants give work for their wages, and masters give wages for their work, but Husbands and Wives give themselves one unto another; Suitors also give Tokens to draw on love, not themselves; so servants in the Church, they do for God in hope of wages, and the Lord blesseth them it may be outwardly, but he that is espoused to Christ, gives himself, Lord I can do nothing for thee, give nothing to thee, but I give my self to thee, that thou wouldst work in me, and by me, Rom. 6. 13. So the Lord is a suitor to many a man that never gives himself to him: he gives them some comforts, some winning, drawing, melting me…cies, but not himself; they give him some entertainment, and good words, a thousand wishes as Capernaum did, but not themselves; but this must be, if ever you look for communion with him: hence David saith, I am thine, save me; hence some made shipwrack of Faith, they were not the Lords; hence the Lord saith, he knows who are his, 2 Tim. 2. 18, 19. his send their tokens again: for look as 'tis an evidence of much love when a man gives the dearest thing he hath, viz. his whole self to the Lord Jesus, so 'tis also an evidence of little love, when he will not give, especially anothers own: thou art none of thine own, thou hast but little love if thou give not thy self to him, without which never look for life and communion with the Lord.
3. The soul hence takes full contentment in the Lord Jesus, as a Spouse hath enough, would not change for all the world, as Peter when he had a glimpse of Christs glory, Lord, let us be here: or as Simeon that had been waiting for the consolation of Israel, when once he had Christ in his arms, Now let thy servant depart in peace: I have enough, now let me dye, and not live to sin more; and 'tis certain as there … in creatures that contents the heart without Christ in an unregenerate man, so contrary-wise in a regenerate, Iohn 3. 29. if hearing the Bridegroom is joy, what is h…ving him? indeed they take content in other things, but as coming from the Husband; and this you must do if ever you look for communion with him; cannot you be content with the Lord alone in Heaven? you shall never come there then, lest you quarrel for want of something. Men make nothing of this, to hathe their hearts in the sun, and joy in what they have, and hope to have, but the Lord may be gone, and you grieve not; why? because o…he… things ease your hearts; There can be no communion hereafter if you despite i… now.
SECT. VII.
THis serves to discover the great error, most common and dangerous of the whole ch…istian wo…ld, who think that they may love and embrace the world and the Lord Jesus too, and …e saved at last by him too, i. e. they may not be Virgins,Use 1. but go a whoring from Christ, and yet partake of Christ, and mercy from him: that look as it was in those sad dayes, Isai. 4. 1. so in these dayes many lay hold on Jesus Christ, they will eat their own b…end, live on their own …, and wear their own apparel, their own rags, only let us be called by thy name Believers ] to take away our reproach, for that is an open shame not to believe in Christ: For this is the prosessed thought of some; every one is a sinne; and I am one, and a great one too, and who can say his heart is clean, none can free himself from sin in this life, and I cannot do it if I would: and hence look on Christ to save them, though sin slee… in them: you cannot have both; I would but enquire, hath not every man something that contents him? what is it? is it the love, the fellowship of Jesus? yet, it may be at a Sacrament, and it may be not, for thou maist say, the Lord never yet revealed his love and self unto me, never yet assured me, yet somewhat joyes thy heart. What think you, can you have the Lord, and content your selves thus with other things? why? I trust to him I hope so; it cannot be so. If the Lord Jesus was a Patron of Brothel-houses, a Protector of Stews, you might think so; some say they cannot pray to him, nor prize him; why? something else contents then besides him; but know it cannot be so: I know a Saint may be taken aside, as David with envy at others prosperity; but when he considers of it, O what a Beast! he returns again. The Raven and the Dove we sent forth, the one came again and again, the other not; therefore as Ioshua 24. brought the people to these thoughts, you cannot serve the Lord, and other gods, as Iunius notes, so bring thy self to that st…ait: O that the Lord would set on this one thing this day; when I sadly weigh it, it consou…ds me, and makes me say, Lord who then can be saved! I know with God all things are possible, but this is rare.
SECT. VIII.
HEnce we may learn who they are that never shall have everlasting communion with the Lord Jesus,Use …. viz. those that never were esposed to him, and you may know this, if never yet divorced from all others besides him, Psal. 73. 25, 26. I shall stay …wh…e here, because there is never an unsound heart in the world, but as they say of …itches, they have some Familiar that sucks them, so they have some Lust that is beloved of them, some beloved there is they have given a promise to, never to forsake; and also because most men do seem and think they are Virgins espoused to Christ, and look for communion with him, and yet not divorced from all other besides him. I shall shew hence,
1. When the soul is in league with the creature.
2. When married to the Law. I should account it happy if any be found out.