The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 2 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Shewing that counterfeit Grace is not lasting.
VERSE 8, 9. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oyl, for our lamps are going out. But the wise answered saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go you rather to them that sell, and but for your selves.
SECT. I.
IN these words is set down the effect which this awakening cry took in the foolish Virgins only:
First, They come to feel, and so to complain of the want of oyl.
Secondly, They petition the wise, that they would give them of their oyl; which latter is amplified in vers. 9. from the answer the wise made unto them.
We shall open the words as we come to observe any thing from them; and begin now with the complaint [Our lamps are gone out] or going out, it is all one; The wise Virgins lamps did grow dim, but yet their oyl was not spent; but here their oyl was spent, and hence their Lamps were going out.
That counterfeit and c…mmon grace of foolish Virgins, after some time of gloriousObservation 1. profession, will certainly go out, and be quite spent: It consumes in the using, and shining and burning. Luke 8. 18. To him that hath shall be given, but he that hath not, shall be taken from him that which he hath. Joh. 15. 2, 6. Every branch in me that beareth no… fruit it withers, then it is taken away, and so it is consumed, and in time burned; and hence, many that are first, are …n time last, Matth. 9. 20. and many that are last first: Men that have been most forward, decay; their gifts decay, life decays, and these are last: and last are first; many newly brought home to Christ, excel them, and live so, and die so, that one would think should never hold out. I need not speak more, Scripture is so abundant: I say it is after some time of profession; for at first it rather grows than decays and withers; but afterward they have enough of it, it withers and dies: And look as it is with some bodies when they are healthful, they grow by all means; but when once Nature is spent, and now declining, nothing recovers them, though they may be kept at a stay for a time, but dye they will with their best cordials in their mouths; so it is here.
For Explication of this Point, we are to attend how and why this is thus; and that not in the worst, but in the best of the foolish Virgins.
First, The Spirit of God comes upon many hypocrites in abundant and plentiful measure of awakening grace; I say it comes upon them as it did upon Balaam, Numb. 24. 2. And as it is in overflowing waters, which spread far, and grow very deep, and fill many empty places, they fall upon the ground, they come not from any spring within the ground; and hence though they last not always, yet they last some good time; so it is here, the Grace and Spirit of God come suddenly and plentifully upon many a man, which gives them a time of flourishing, it comes not from imitation, or education, or moral perswasion only, but physically from the Spirit of God, 1 Sam. 10. 12. when they wondred that Saul was among the Prophets, one answered, who is their father? who gave them this gift of prophecy? is it not the Lord? so the fame Lord is rich to Saul also: And I say it is only awakening grace; for renewing grace, savingly to change their nature, is not given, but awakening grace, which works upon conscience, and conscience upon the whole man; and thus it was here with these Virgins, they had wonderful light, and a spirit of illumination to see the Lord Jesus, and hence to look for him with much affection and forwardness, as well as the wise, and to keep them company in Church-fellowship, and though they were secure, to complain of their decays, and desire the spirit of grace which they saw in the wise.
Secondly, Though it doth come upon them thus, yet it doth never rest within, so as to dwell there, to take up an eternal mansion for himself, Isa. 11. 10. his rest shall be glorio…s, Isa. 57. 15. This is a favor the Lord shews only to the … above all people in the world besides. Rom. 8. 11. If the Spirit which raised up Iesus Christ from the dead dwell in you, it shall q…icken you, and seal …ou up to be Sons, as it is there expressed.
Thirdly, Hence it doth decay by little and little; as a man that dwels not, but so journeth for a little time in a house, he removes by little and little, till at last he is quite gone; as ponds filled with rain water, which comes upon them; not spring water that riseth up within them, it dries up by little and little until quite dry; as it is with light, after the Sun is declining and setting, it decreaseth by little and little, until it be turned into darkness; so it is here; and as it was in the Cherubims, where the glory of God was, and the Lord departed by little and little; as in Saul, first he neglects the command of the Lord in one thing, then in another, then the Spirit of God departed, and … vil spirit of sadness came upon him; and then he threa…ens David, then kills the Priests of the Lord, then goes to a Witch, and at last kills himself; and I say this is because the Lord dwels not there; and hence Ioh. 15. because the branch is not engraffed into the stock; and this is usually at the very heigh… of affection on and profession; as the stony ground sprang up; when did it wither? when it came to its height; as flowers that come to wither when they are come to their height of growth; and hence also men when they have most, and best means, and affect, and love them, yet then they dye and wither. And it decays by Four means.
SECT. II.
First THrough want of daily nourishment and supply from the Lord Jesus; for look as it is with many bodies, suppose they have life, yet if there be not daily nourishment for it, and wholsom also, it will dye ere long, and consume; so it is here, there is a kinde of life which hypocrites have from Christ, and it may be fed, and so they live for a time; but this the Lord ever doth for them, they are not always fed, and hence die, as it is Iohn 6. some were quickened to follow after Christ in the wilderness for loaves, some for better ends (as his Disciples) but the Lord knew their want, labor not for them at that perisheth, but for that which gives everlasting life, which Christ will give you; and hence the whole Chapter is spent upon this, to feed upon himself, whence the best were offended: Let a man partake of all Ordinances, Priviledges he shall finde nothing else but decay unless the Lord be in them all to give daily nourishment, Ephes. 4. 16. daily, I mean, as there is decrease of that taste they have had of the Lord.
Secondly, Through the emptiness of a form; for when the Spirit of God dwells not, but only comes upon a man, it is not long but it corrupts into a form ever after; a man at first knows many truths, and at first is affected with them, he doth not presently forget them, or shut his eyes against them, but after he hath known them a little while, at last the sweetness of that knowledge is lost; and so he hath a form of knowledge, like lessons which a man hath been much affected with, but having plaied or heard them oft, he hears and knows them, but is not affected with them, Ezek. 33. ult. So at first a man doth many duties with delight; stay a while, and he keeps the duty, but the delight is gone in it, and so hath an empty form; now where the power of godliness and the eternal life of Christ is not, it degenerates firstly usually into this form, and this is all that is left; and the form being empty, hence first, A man comes to loath the truth, and profession of the ways of God which once he loved, and so in time to fall and decay without as well as within; as drink or milk at first are sweet, but stay a while and (the spirits not preserving themselves) then it grows dead, and sowre, and sapless, and so it is here. Capernaumites at first be affected, then they fall to a form, then hard to be wrought upon, their hearts fat under all means; if thy light be darkness, how great is that darkness!
Thirdly, Through the power of lust; for where the Lord dwells not, there sin reigns, and it will get head where it hath had any affront, and so choak the power of all means, and hence a man withers, as in the thorny ground, it grew up and choaked the word.
Fourthly, Through the fitness of external temptation, which must and will prevail, when the Lord is not within to keep the Palace; it is stronger than all common graces in the world, and will draw away the heart and life, Rev. 3. 10. there is an hour of temptation which tries men, which will discover men indeed; now those temptations are ever suitable to places and persons.
SECT. III.
First, SOmetime the temptation is extream want, as it was with the Israel…es, when they were under the oppressions of Pharoah; Oh to sacrifice to the Lord in a wilderness, and to enjoy the land of Canaan, where they should have Ordinances, Oh they are much taken with this! and many prayers and groans to be delivered out of their oppressions; but when they came to the wilderness, and there did want bread, and then water, now they murmur; which murmuring God remembers, and casts them off for: Had they not Moses, and the cloud, and God's promise, and experience, why did they complain? Oh to bear want, they could not! extream want is like extream sickness, it makes all sweet things bitter; some wants men can bear, but not extremity; this saddle doth pinch so hard; so the young man, forsake all for me, saith Christ, but he could not; God and Creatures are enough, but not God alone; so it is with many a man, he can be content to lose something, but when brought very low, cares and fears grow up and choak all.
Secondly, Sometimes the want of spiritual supply; a man looked for much from the Ordinances, and finds it not; not because the Lords heart is streitned, but because theirs are not enlarged; and hence they have enough of God, and all his Ordinances; they have had the heart of them, and now let them lie fallow, Zach. 11. my soul loathed them, and theirs me.
Thirdly, sometimes abundance of outward blessings, peace, liberty, plenty here; now these things, like ground in Summer, 'tis strange to see what lusty weeds now there be, that did appear dead in time of winter, D…ut. 8. 11. Oh then take heed thou forget not the Lord thy God; now proud and secure, and forsake all.
Fourthly, Sometimes persecutions from men: if hot and total ruine be threatned, this scares from God.
Fifthly, Sometimes corrupt Teachers and delusions among them.
Sixthly, Increase of iniquity in good and bad, in the place where men live; hence love waxeth cold: All which are Matth. 24.
I will name no more, but thus mens common grace comes to wither, and dye in them; and the Reasons are these.
SECT. IV.
HEnce do not trust men too far, nor boast of any man too much, especiallyUse 1. in regard of his glorious profession and affections at the first; God sends divers of his faithful servants to a place, and many at first hearing are wrought upon, battered down, convinced, mourning after peace, going to Ministers, delight in Ordinances; now many Ministers bless God for their conversion, and many a Christian is put out of doubt of it, parents of their children, and children of their parents, one brother of another, and one Christian neighbor of another; whom he got out once to hear, and once hearing overcame; and for a time there is no other: Oh take heed of boasting too much, it may be they may and will fall (before they have lived many years) down, when at their height: what man was ever sought unto more than Iohn? all Iudea came unto him, yet at last they forsake him, rejoyced but a season in that light; they went also from him to Christ, Ioh. 7. 26, 32. yet Iohn complains, none received his testimony; Christ himself preached in Capernaum, and … exalting a man, they boasted in him; yet onelyonly a few Babes which the Lord wrought upon; the Galathians would lose their eyes for Paul, yet a…terward they flight him, and join with false teachers against him: Oh therefore pray for them, and weep for them, but do not trust them too far; neither trust your selves too much; Ioh. 8. 31. Then are ye my disciples if you continue; Demas forsakes Paul, all in Asia forsake me.
SECT. V.
HEnce be not offended if we see many apostatize, and fall from their mostUse 3. eminent profession; the Lord hath here foretold that after some profession their lamps will go out; we do not wonder if ponds full in winter are dry in summer, because it is the time and season of it, and they want springs to feed them; and never was there any time since the world began that there were such Apostacies as now.
First, One man after much profession intends to follow the Lord, conscience is troubled at humane inventions; Oh, saith he, if delivered, well enough, though I lose never so much! well, he lays out all, and is delivered; but that which quiets conscience, doth not quiet his heart and affections; but his very loss for conscience makes his lusts and desires after other things break out more eagerly, and men cannot now live upon Gospel only, with bread and water; no, no, you are deceived; as it is with sick men, they let go all their estate for recovery; but when recovered, they must get up their estate again, this will not satisfie: And thus some fall spiritually.
Secondly, Others they sought for much in Ordinances, but finding not what they looked for, Ordinances are but as pictures fair a far off; but when men come near them, Word, and Fellowship, and people of God, then they despise them, because they find not a living God there.
Thirdly, While God keeps men under sad temptations, wants and afflictions; Oh then they are humble, and pray; but when blest with ease, and peace, and plenty, and honor, then how lofty and secure? this is better than the Lord: Never such a decay of the spirit of prayer; never was there such a conconfusion in the world, such burning of Cities, slaying of men, rents of Churches, God minding to stain the pride of all glory; and yet never such hearts.
Object. But to stand so long, and yet to fall, seems strange?
Answ. If soon it is a wonder, but if long it is no wonder; if once past growing, you do not wonder if an oak be now decaying.
Obj. But they keep their profession still, only in one thing vile, the error is only in their minds; a spirit of discention from the people of God.
Ans. Scarce shall you see one man in a hundred that is vile in every thing, that falls totally; the foolish Virgins did not so, yet their oyl was spent, and their lamps going out; there was a man that was slain suddenly, and his blood in his face was fresh, his beauty glorious, and many weeks continued without putrefaction, yet life within was gone; so 'tis the condition of many a man by one wound or sin: And hence a Physitian at Wittenb…rg writes of the cause of it; be not therefore offended at them, but wonder at the Lord that he keeps thee; I know there are decaying Saints, but they recover again here.
SECT. VI.
OH therefore labor for the grace that may last,Use 3. the bread that may last to everlasting life; in all bargains and buildings men will have a special eye to that which will last; if it be rotten, let whosoever will take it; and be sure it is so; for when God doth fully awaken you, you will see it is not right; the foolish Virgins they though they were we…l before; but now after some time, and awakened, they see it will not hold nor continue. For the Lords sake be suspitious here; fear lest a promise being left, any fall short of it; other things will not last, neither Creatures, nor the Lord to do you good, unless you have everlasting grace. It is a time the Lord is stripping the world of all ornaments, your Wives, Children, Churches; God will take your Husbands, Parents, Members, Ministers from you; yet if a heart to close with the Lord, Oh this is right.
Quest. How?
Answ. 1. Take heed of any affection, without first subduing the contrary lust; for if you mingle them, the one will choak the other; this is sowing among thorns, Ier. 4. 3, 4.
2. Maintain it upon an everlasting root; if the Lord gives you grace, and you set it in your own garden, it will dye; no, let it receive life from the promise, that unchangeable love, and grace, and faithfulness; say, if that supports not I fall, 1 Sam. 23. 5. Isa. 46. from gray hairs, I will carry thee; Psa. 23. 2, 3. the Lord leads to waters, he feeds: But I decay? yet he restores my soul: Oh but he afflicts much? yet his rod and staff comfort me; I shall dwell in the house of God for ever. Be more empty as the Lord fills you. But oh the sin of this world; all the creatures in the world cannot content, but grace doth, and hence men regard not the Lord; and hence you perish, and your grace shall perish also.