The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 2 · Chapter 19 · Section 11 – Section 13
SECT. II.
Quest. BVT must they be so farre awakened, as to wait for the Lord, and desire to be with him, having got Vessels full, and Lamps burning?
Answ. Yes, in some measure at least; for there are awakenings to the life of glory in another world, and awakenings to the life of duties in this world; by the one the soul is raised out of this world to the Lord in Glory; by the other the soul is raised up to duties in this world; if the Lord awakens not his Saints to the first, either they are not awakened truly, or not throughly and effectually; for till then the soul is not ready, Luk… 12. 40. with 35. As it is with a man who is sent for to enjoy favour and fellowship of the King, he is not ready for it, untill he stands waiting at the door, and that it is his business; the patternes of mercy, and Vessels of glory, are ever set out in the New Testament, by this, Heb. 9. ult. Tit. 2. 12, 13.
Look as it was with Simeon, Luke 2. 25. He had a promise he should see Christ before he died; hence he waited for the consolation of Israel; so the soul having a promise of seeing Christ when he is dead, it makes him wait for this time; and when he wants a promise sealed, though he waites not nextly, yet he waites remotely, that the Lord would cause him to believe it, that so he might wait for it; that is his end, this is the mea…es; he knows it is best to be with the Lord, where is no sin, but holiness; he hath found him sweet in his looks, in his words, in his works, in his hopes, his first fruits, but to be with him is best.
This is not such an high pitch which Saints come not to, it is indeed such which Hypocrites come not to; the Hypocrites end is to escape misery; hence they desire comfort by duties, that they shall be freed from it, but not to enjoy Christ; the Lord never tied in their souls such a knot of faith and love which works this.
For 1. Security of Saints, 'tis not the privation of life (that is death) but a suspension of the acts of a heavenly life; there is in them love to Christ, delight in him, happiness in living to him, pleasing of him; but it is suspended by cares or contents of the world, and love of ease; hence a Christian is never throughly awakened, till he comes to that life againe; his heart is with Christ in heaven; and because he cannot be there, hence he stayes a while, and looks, and waits for it; anothers security is the privation of life, of empty duties arising from some vanishing affections, as in the foolish Virgins which were to quiet conscience only; Hence their awakening are only to that life again…e at the best, if ever God do awaken them, unless the Lord indeed convert them.
2. Every thing will mightily tend to that to which its nature bends and inclines it; as a stone if thrown upward, will mightily tend downward. Some say there is an Element of fire above, because this here endeavours to ascend, as being out of its place; he that is of the earth, he will be tending to it, though awakened, t…ough lifted up; Saints will be tending upward, because their nature is heavenly, loving, looking, waiting, longing, 2 Cor. 5. 3, 4. with 1. as Angels here be willing to stay to do the work, but yet they long to be before the face of God againe, because their natures are heavenly, and there their proper place is.
Now for the Lord Jesus sake examine your selves here. I hope some are awakened, the Word hath done it; cry of afflictions, inward temptations have made you look about you, and you are wearied out with your own wayes; but are you not since grown secure? time was the feet of the Messengers of peace were glorious, but now their Message is meane; Sabbaths longed for, now you are weary of them, heartless in them, sleep with the spoon in your mouths; private duties were seasons of breaking the heart, refreshing and comforting from the Lord, but now you neglect them, sleight them, and the Lord in them, and are not much troubled at it, because you have some excuse or other for it; thy mouth was full of good questions, now thou thinkest thy self more fit to teach than learn; thy society was sweet as the Rose in Spring, now the sweet odour of it is lost; time was thou wer… exceeding tender of the least sinne, and not a day past, but thy cheeks were wet in secret before the Lord; now thou art grown blinde and bold, and you can defile your self in all your wayes, and your faith in Christ keeps you from repentance for sin; time was, the truth was glorious, and you could make use of your Notes many a day after, when you did not finde good in publick; but now pen and Ink is left at home, you cast your bread into corners, and feed not your hearts therewith: Time was, you could take a rebuke kindly, when you were little in your own eyes; but now if you think a reproof is meant of you, your hearts can swell, nay, now your judgement decayes; What warrant for private prayers twice a day? what warrant for weekly Sermons, when we have six dayes to labour, and one to rest in? you were formerly more exact, but now wiser, and thus you lie, and as if you were come to the end of your race already, and reach not after things before you, you have enough grace, hence you think you shall be saved, and so sit st…ll, and now play the good Husband: Oh the Covenants you have had, if ever you came hither what you would do! oh the esteem of the Lord afar off! but now you are broken by your Voyage, and your Vessel is crackt, and oyle is run out, and Lamp is out, will you dye so? if you say yes, I profess you are not ready; it is a question if ever you had grace, if it be so; and therefore bless God, the Lord gives you warning this day; but I feare many will not stir till Christ comes; I say as she to Sampson, Vp, for the Philistins are upon thee; so I say, Security is upon thee, and wrath is now gone out to awaken thee, if the word doth not.
SECT. XII.
Use 3. OF Exhortation. Labour to be in a readinesse, awaken out of sleep, and get your Garments on, your loynes girt, your Vessels full, your Lam…s burning, tha… you may be indeed ready, and he Lord may finde you so, as well as men think you so; It is Christs Exhortation, Luke 12. 40. whereupon Peter askt, Did he speak that Parable only to the Disciples, or of all? Verse 41. he answers all, especially them that know the Lords minde herein, and do it not, Verse 47. So you may ask me, Whom do I press to make ready? I answer all. Two sorts I shall therefore name.
1. Those who are yet unready, either in whole or part.
2. Those who are ready, but not so ready as those should be who stand before the Lord, and as themselves will wish another day they had been; the wise as well as foolish, may be sleepy, and so unready for a time; but O awake.
First, Those who are unready and unprepared for the Lord and his coming; are there any such? Yes, very many; some there be who know they are unready, and will not yet buy, and yet prepare not for it, because they are young enough yet, or have time enough to provide for that hereafter. Some others, because they cry, Lord, Lord, and look to Christ, and are well thought of by the wise, that think they are ready; but know it, all your thoughts, and cares, and prayers, and endeavours, are little enough for it, even all your life; and yet to prepare for this, hath been the least part of many a mans life; and such is the security of some, that till Christ come, they will not Gird up themselves to this Work.
SECT. XIII.
COnsider the lamentable end of one who dies unready; Motive 1.some (not all) the Lord leaves for terrours to the secure world, who are as good as men risen from the dead, to tell men of the vanity of their sinful courses, who looking upon time past, they see that it is irrecoverably lost, and past away as a dreame, and lost as a shadow; look upon time present, they feel their souls left naked, their accounts not made, an end come to all their hopes and comforts here, their body sick, their conscience trembling, if not tearing, their hearts hard, God departed, the grave opened for their filthy carkasses, and Devils waiting for their secure soules; And now say such, What profit have I for all my vanity under the Sun? Look to time to come, there they see the Throne set, the Lord Jesus on it, their soules standing naked before him, whose grace was great toward them whiles they lived, but whose face now is a consuming fire; and they behold eternity, even that eternal black Gulf between them and the Lord; and here they lie wishing they had taken their time, professing now their time is lost, beseeching others to take warning by them, desiring the prayers of others; but yet thinking though Noah and Samuel should stand before the Lord for them, there is no hope. Come and tell them, Do not cast away mercy, cast not away that blood, which is worthy to be gathered up by blessed Angels in Vessels of gold; lament, and returne, and the Lord will to you; what tell you me of repenting and believing? is a sick time, a fit time to repent in? but the Lord hath done great things for you, you have thought so, but there were such sins, or such a sin, I knew, you knew not; I knew it, yet I loved it, I had indeed some lazy purposes to forsake it, but the Lord hath taken me in my seemings; but mercy is infinite; oh it's my torment; I have seen an end of my sinnes, and now I feel the beginning of my torment; happy are they that die in the Lord, and thrice happy that make ready for the Lord.
Consider thou hast but a short time to prepare in, Motive 2.and the time will be then, when thou dost least think of it, Luke 12. 46. The Lords Arrows are now flying abroad; if you did think you should be next smitten down dead, you would prepare; but you think the Lord delayes his coming; Oh Remember, that time thou do'st least think of, Christ will come.
If unready now, you will be much more unready next day; Motive 3.grant thy time to be long; you will be the more unfit the longer you delay; thou hast hinderances now, the longer thou livest, thou wilt have more and more; …y heart will be harder every day than other.