The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 2 · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
Shews that the Grace of one person will not advantage another that wants Grace himself; and that the best Christians cannot dispense Grace to those that want it.
VERSE 9. But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for your selves.
SECT. I.
HErein is set down the Answer of the wise to the Request of the foolish Virgins.
This Answer of the wise Virgins contains two things.
First, A denial, together with the reason of it, which is a check to their folly.
Secondly Their counsel and advice directing them to the remedy, if there be any which might supply them with oyl; Go to them that sell and buy for your selves. The Spirit of Grace comes not so lightly by: You would have it given; no, you must buy it; you would have us help you; no, there are others appointed for to self it you; away to them before the Bridegroom comes.
1. Not so] They are words inserted in the English Text, not so in the original; but yet they are safely put in, partly because they are intended directly in the strength of their reason, and involved therein, implied thereby; partly because they do more clearly express the meaning of the words, and give their sense more distinctly.
2. Lest there be not enough for us and for you] What did the foolish now look to works of supererogation and prayers of Saints, and the treasury of the Churches holiness and Indulgencies? surely no, for these were Virgins, had escaped the pollution of Antichrist, and they go for this not to Popish Treasurers, but unto them that are wise; neither is it likely that Christ's coming could awaken them out of their security to fall to gross Popery so suddenly, whiles they were the Companions and Imitators of the wise, and therefore this is not the meaning, as some have wrested the words, and so make the Answer of the wise to be a Protestant Answer to a Popish Petition, and therefore bid them go to Shavelings that will for money sell Pardons, and Indulgencies, and Prayers, and Merits.
SECT. II.
Quest. WHat then are the wise unwilling to communicate of the Graces they have? what Christian but is willing?
Answ. First, We are not to adhere to words in opening Parables, but the scope; now their scope was hereby, First to sink and humble the hearts of the foolish, and to let them know that all that which they had in time of extremity, was little enough for themselves at this season.
Secondly, This answer is made answerable to the ground of their request; you know how Hypocrites in Churches rest in outward priviledges, and how they are carried unto Ordinances, but not above Ordinances indeed to Christ; and though they have some knowledge of, and lookings above them unto Christ, yet missing him, like men sinking catch hold upon that which is next, and so look for help thence; so these being in the fellowship of the wise, and admirers of them, and having got good by them, and imitated them, hence they relye too much upon them for it; and hence they answer, We have but our measure, and therefore it is not in our hands to dispense grace in times of extremity; that must come from him that hath received the Spirit without measure; so that this answer doth not imply unwillingness to communicate, but to let the others see that they were not the first that could communitate.
Thirdly, You are to consider that God had now broken open the consciences of the foolish, that they professed they had no oyl; hereupon the wise Virgins are not unwilling to communicate altogether; but considering other means are sanctified to beger Grace where it never was, or rather of greater efficacy and power; hence they send them to other means, to them that sell, professing this for their ground, that they had little enough for themselves; and it was not in their power now to convey any: This I conceive is the direct scope of the Parable in this Verse: Hence three Notes.
SECT. III.
THat the Grace of Gods Spirit in other wise-hearted Christians, will do no good to foolish Virgins, Observation 1.and slothful Christians in the days of their extremity. Ezek. 14. 20. Though Iob and Daniel stood before me, they shall but deliver their own souls; gracious holy men, if not only in misery but sin 1 Ioh. 5. 16. they shall recover; not others, I…r. 4. 4. lest my wrath break out like fire. Oh therefore dally not under Ordinances; to have them, but no gain of them; to have Vines planted, but not to eat fruit of them, and all by reason of a slothful heart, is a dangerous thing; as many a man hath a rich stock, and a good trade, and yet thrives not; Oh he is not careful to keep, nor diligent to improve, but is idle; so here
Oh consider the wrath of God! In extremity usually the Lord hears and helps his poor people; but it shall be far from the Lord, when others shall say Lord help; no, let others tears and prayers be regarded; no, what Lord, not in extremity? no, not in extremity.
SECT. IV.
THat it is not in the hand of the most eminent Christians to dispence the Grace of Christ to whom,Observation 2. and when, and where they will: Not in all separably, nor in all joyntly; it is not in all the wise Virgins hands together: It is not in the hands of a whole Church, or all Churches to do this. These poor foolish Virgins it may be they did not in their judgments think thus; however in their practice they now trust to this. But these answer, It is not in us.
It is not in Moses to give his spirit to whom he would, but the Lord, Numb. 11. 17.
It is not in Paul nor Apollos, the one deep in wisdom, the other admirable in expression, but in God, who gives the commission to fetch the whole world in, 1 Cor. 3. 5, 6.
It is not in Christ as Man, to give to one to sit at his right hand or left.
It is not in the hands of the best Parents; It is not in the wills of all men living, Ioh. 1. 13.
SECT. V.
BEcause they have but their measure received wholly,Reason 1. and dependent wholly from another, answerable to their own necessities; therefore it is not in their freedom, but in the hands of him who hath received it without measure, Iohn 3. 34, 35. but the Father hath put all things into his hands; as it is in stars, one star doth not give light to another, but the Sun to all, having received it without measure comparatively; so one Spring doth not beget another, but it is in the Sea, which hath water without measure, from whence they come and return again.
Because all the Saints,Reason 2. and all the fellowship of God's people, it is but a means, or they are but instruments in the hands of Christ to convey Grace; now you know all instruments act and work according to the will of the principal agent; as it is not in the axes hand to cut down one tree for fuel, another for building; but in the agents hand, especially if the instrument be weak and powerless, and such are the people of God; 1 Cor. 1. 29. they are poor things, and weak things, and nothings, things that are not; 2 Cor. 3. 5. not so much as to think any thing of themselves▪ It is not in the people of God as it is in salves, that there is an inherent vertue abiding alway to heal, and that in any man which is cureable; but there is only an adherent vertue which doth not alway abide; and when it is there, works not upon all, but only at the pleasure of the principal Agent the Lord Jesus; those means which providence hath put an inherent vertue into, cannot bless, but as the Lord will; meat cannot nourish sometimes, muchless can these without the will of another; hence Ephes. 4. 16. the Saints are edified by this, but from Christ still.
In regard of the greatness of the power and honor that is required to dispence the Grace of God,Reason 3. and the Spirit of Grace, which the Church is not capable of.
First, Knowledge of the Elect; the Spirt of Grace which accompanies Salvation, shall never be given to any but to them, Rom. 11. 7. the election have obtained it; hence they must be known first to them that have power to dispence it; now that they cannot tell; indeed Paul by seeing the … forth, knew the election of the Thessalonians, 1 Thess. 1. 4. but not …; he could not say This man I will give grace unto, and not to that; a Minister, as Paul, Acts 18. 10. may in general know that there is some people in such a place, at least probably, but who they be he knows not, no more than Samuel, who knew one of Iesses Sons was to be King, but not one whom he liked, but whom the Lord did chuse; and hence a Minister calls all, because he knows not who they be: only some are called, because Christ knew, and therefore in his hand it is.
Secondly, The power must be omnipotent, both to lay the foundation, and to go on with the building; now that cannot be put forth by a poor finite creature, when it will,2 Cor. 4. 6. but when the Lord will; a Minister may preach and quicken, a Christian may exhort and comfort, and yet they may hear and meet again twenty times and never find the like day, because their weapons are only mighty through God, 2 Cor. 10. 4, 5.
Thirdly, Shedding of blood, dying and bearing wrath, to purchase and so to have the Spirit to send; for the Spirit of Grace could never be given, nor encreased, nor continued in any, had not blood first purchased this; our sins are said to be healed by blood, and we cleansed from them by it, i. e. by the Spirit purchased by it, Heb. 9. 14. Blood sprinkled purifies your consciences with blood, i. e. the vertue of blood applied by the Spirit: If any of the Saints shed blood for the Church to redeem it, then they have power to convey the Spirit of Grace to the Church; and it is as hard to convey one dram of Grace as to dye.
SECT. VII.
HEnce we may see the glory and excellency of the Lord Jesus above all men;Use 1. nay, above all the best men and best Chruches living; ask David whom he loves and honors most, he will tell you, Psal. 15. 4. He despiseth a vile person, and honors them that fear the Lord; and that Christian that is most excellent had all his heart; ask any Christian, to what men his heart is most knit, and whom he doth most of all honor, if he sees one man in forty most holy most humble, most like to God, most acquainted with God, and the mind of God; a Paul for wisdom, a David for brokenness of spirit, an Abr…ham for Faith, a Steven for courage and zeal, &c. their very feet are beautiful, their very names are an alablaster-box broken up. And why doth he thus? Because he sees they are holy, and like to God; Oh but consider they cannot make thee holy, it is not in their liberty; though they should like thee, they cannot teach thee one truth savingly; thou hast a rugged heart, they cannot polish thee; and wilde, they cannot tame it; they cannot convey one dram, or taste, or savor of the life of Grace to thee: Oh if these be lovely who only have oyl in their vessels, though they can give none for thee: What is the Lord Jesus then? who is not only holy, fairer than the children of men, having all without measure; but can also make thee holy, which none of the Saints can; who not only▪ is good and holy, but doth good, and makes holy. Thou lookest sometimes upon Saints, and seest their grace and life, and mournest for want of it, keepest company with them, and wishest thou hadst their oyl, but they cannot help thee to it: Oh look up to the Lord: If thou lovest and prizest them, oh prize and love the Lord much more who hath it in his hands to give it unto thee: who like a Spring sends not forth its streams to refresh it self, but the weary, but the faint, Isa. 50. 4. who like … sends not his beams out to enlighten it self, but … which sit in d…ness might see, and blind might know, Io…. 9. 49. Ioh. 17. for their sakes I sanctifie my self, he hath an humble, meek spirit to give to th…e that art proud and sturdy; he can make a Lion a Lamb, who hath a wise and heavenly Spirit to teach thee that art simple, and thee that art earthly, if his good pleasure will.
SECT. VII.
DO not say I have found good from them, as well as seen Grace in them … I blessed God that ever I saw or spake with them, or ever saw … &c. I answer, Know it that they were but powerless instruments … of a merciful, yet powerful Christ, otherwise thou hadst never … from any Christian, any Minister, any Sermon; the Lord Jesus … have used them as means to have condemned thee, as he did … and Noahs example, by which he condemned the world, as well as to have called thee, or done the least good to thee; therefore this still … upon Christ above all others in the world; all the Saints and Ministers in the world could not have changed one hair from being black to white, no… all their cares for thee added one cubit to thy stature; Oh it was the Lord, … if they have any pity, the Lord put in them; if they ever spake one word, or made one prayer, the Lord put it in them; if blessed, it is by him.
Now dost thou honor and love them, because they have done thy soul good, else thou hadst been in hell? Oh admire the Lord much more, for they were but set on work by him; and now they have done thee good, there is a stop, they can go no further you think; I did receive good by a little, while being with such Christians, but now when thou comest hither again, thou thinkest (it may be) thou shalt receive much more; no, their hands and feet may be bound, those Conduit-cocks cannot turn themselves. O… but Jesus Christ he can go on, nay, he will go until he hath made thee like unto his own self; and hence 1 Ioh. 3. 2. then we shall be like him, now we be sons; children though born of poor men, yet love their poor father that begat them: Who gave you your being? who begat you to God, and so made you sons of God? Oh methinks the Lord that did this should be precious and lovely! that you should call the world to wonder at it, that the Lord hath made an incarnate Devil a blessed Angel: But thou hast a vile heart still; Oh but you shall be like him; he will make you like himself at the last day, who is brighter than Angels, and whose face is fairer than the children of men; only he will do it by little and little here, rather by causing thee to feel thy vileness, than removing it wholly.
Therefore, as the Apostle Gal. 4, 9. when they were turned from the Gospel to Mosaical observances, he calls them weak and beggarly rudiments, which had no power of themselves to convey Grace, not at best in that abundance which the Gospel did; so say I, do you now know the Lord, who did not once know him; and do you now admire and love Chirstians and others, if they do good especially to you; and do you refuse to honor the Lord, but look only upon beggarly, weak means and Christians? God forbid; it is the Lord only that can enrich you, &c.
2 Cor. 3. If the ministration of condemnation was glorious, oh what is the ministration of the Spirit; if those which have the Spirit be glorious, what is the Lord that not only hath it, but can also give it, and make you like unto him in glory, and that by the very beholding of him! vers. ult. If a man had such a glass which not only gave him the sight of some dear friend always, but as oft as he looked in it, makes him like unto him, how would he prize this glass, but especially the image of his friend in it! so Christ is not only glorious, but he thereby makes himself glorious.
SECT. VIII.
Object. DO not say the Lord can do this, but he will not; Saints would if they could.
Answ. 1. You do not know but that he will do it; when Christ was here on earth, and men were sick, though their friends willed their good; yet I doubt not but Christ was most glorious, because though they knew not that he would, yet they knew that he might heal and pity, and if it were for his honor he would.
2. Pray to him for it, and do it; he will pour water on the thirsty, and give the Spirit and water of life to them that ask; Do not think you seek in vain, especially if your cryes arise from a sick heart, that sin is thy disease not torment onelyonly; it is not thy delight, you need a Physitian, he will not heal you, if it is not your temper, your food, &c. If a man hath a mind to a thing, and another denies him, he will not see less beauty then, than he did before; if you have a mind, Christ hath a mind also.
Obj. But I do not feel the Lord giving me the Spirit.
Answ. Yet if you prize it, and reach after it, the Lord hath done this for you.
SECT. IX.
TO all the Servants of the Lord,Vse 2. if ever you did any good to any, Oh boast not of your selves, but carry the glory of it to the Lord Jesus, as he said the Lord doth good by me, but I know no reason why: So add also, but I wonder at the manner how a poor, weak, dead nothing, whose unclean heart and lips might have made others worse, not better, as infection sticking to the best garments, Act. 3. 12, 13. Why stand ye looking on us? be it known to you, by the name of Iesus it is that which is done; when Christ was known to heal all diseases, all the Country round about by this fame of him came to him, and so he healed them; this will bring in customers to Christ: Some Christians are very forward to speak to others, to let in some new notion, or to convert, that they may make an Absoloms pillar afterward, and that they might report I did this; some take content in speaking of conversion of others, that I did this. Let your works praise you, but let your tongue praise Christ; it was the Lord that did this. If bread could speak it would say, it is not I that feed; and fire, not I that warm: You can speak, tell others so; you would fain be accounted some body, and therefore will devise new Gospels, and mint new notions; that not only Christ may be pleased, but men may say, this I received of such a one, that their names might be spoken of. The Theif takes the sheep for himself, a good Shepheard carries it home to his owner.
SECT. X.
OH then do not rest in this,Use 3. that you have now got to partake of the fellowship of Gods people; I confess next to fellowship with God, their fellowship is best and most sweet, 1 Ioh. 1. 3, 4. and nothing more powerful to preserve and keep Gods people from Apostacy than this, Col. 2. 5. order and stedfastness in faith are coupled; they that be planted in the Courts of the Lord shall flourish here, nothing encreasing Grace more, Col. 2. 19. when many eyes to see by, many hands to help work by: When a man sinned, if one or two men only took up stones to stone the sinner, it may be they might miss, or the man live; but when there be many it is strange if it doth not kill; so out of fellowship of the people of God, one may admonish then another, and it may be he can shift, but here there be many, &c. 2 Cor. 2. 7. When a mans life is going away in a swoon, if one or two be there present only, he may never recover; but when one rubs, another chafes, another holds him, another runs and fetches hot water for him, it is a hundred to one but he escapes. But yet as the best means, if neglected or trusted to, will make men worse, as Caperna…m was worse for Christ's preaching, which they boasted of; so the best means if not trusted to, will make men better; as it is with some Extracts, and Spirits, they will make quick work one way or other.
1. If ever you see or receive any good, look to the Lord in them, 1 Sam. 10. 11, 12. who is their father.
2. If ever you look to receive any, look to the Lord that by them he may convey help and succor in his time.
SECT. XI.
Quest. HOw shall I get that good?
Ans. 1. Feel your need of their fellowship, and their help, you will then be getting good by every example, every prayer, 1 Cor. 12. the eye cannot say to the hand I have no need of thee: Oh be not full; for God hath not made you so full, but if you be an eye, you need the foot, &c. David knew more than the Levites did, yet how did he long to see God, and the goings of God in the Sanctury!
Paul did need the mutual comfort of Christians; it was a strange thing in Paul when he was to carry money to others, yet he beseecheth them, Oh pray for me, Rom. 15. 30, 31. Do not say only, I feel a need of Sacraments or Ministry, but I need the prayers, the counsel, the examples, the exhortation of the meanest Christian.
Secondly, Be sure you joyn your selves to living Christians, that is, not only such as have Grace, but such as are lively in the use and exercise of it; for those God sanctifies especially to communicate Grace to you; if a living hand be knit to a dead arm,1 Joh. 1. 3. sure little good will it receive from it, Rom. 1. 12. a lively believing Christian will comfort Paul, and an humble Christian will humble.
This is the very reason why Christians do not get good, because their hearts are dead, and their fellowship with God little; and hence others despise them, and withdraw from them.
Thirdly, Love them dearly▪ a man will never get good from any Christian that he despiseth, or slighteth; as it is with a man, if his hand would have life from the head, set it in his place, and let not it be tied outwardly, but united as a member, and then it receives it; and hence it edifies it self in love; so by love are men edified.