The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 2 · Chapter 19 · Section 6 – Section 7
SECT. VI.
1. WHen the soul, the Spouse of Christ is made lovely by its Wedding Garment, the Royal Robe of his own righteousness in the eyes of Christ; for this Bridegroom, though he findes his Spouse …, yet he being glorious and lovely himself, makes it lovely and glorious, E…h. 5. 25, 26. A Queen fit for the fellowship of this King of Kings, and thorow this righteousness (though otherwise weak and vile, yet) the object of his, and the Fathers infinite and endless delight in heavenly Glory; now it is fit, Zach. 3. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 2 Cor. 5. 2, 3. Without this righteousness, there is nothing but shameful nakedness in the best; so as the soul … Adam, will rather seek bottomes of Mountaines to hide it from Christ, … to appeare before him. Now examine you Saints; time was, that … was no shame to thee, though thou didst wallow in that Vomit, and livedst in it, and livedst by it as by thy Trade; or if the Lord did keep and deanse you from foule sins, and that you could pray, and sorrow, and k…ow and remember what you heard, and had some good affections, now you were some body in your own eyes, and it may be you thought if you died then, you should to heaven, and Christ must needs save you; who should he save else? but now the Lord hath made thee poor in spirit, and ashamed; nay, the Lord hath made thee lie down confounded, because of all thy shame before him; and the Lord hath made thee see a glory, a ri…ing Sun in Christs righteousness which the Gospel hath brought to light; though thou wert a poor, naked, condemned, vile creature; yet the Lord hath made thee seek for it, so as to esteem all things loss to be found there, and now here is all thou hast to glory in, as that which may make thee lovely in the Fathers sight; and here the Lord hath quieted thy conscience, and heart also; be not discouraged, nor afraid to stand before the Lord, if he should send for thee this night; for though thou art vile in thine own eyes, yet the Lord looks upon thee as lovely.
The Apostle makes a question, why the Gentiles are justified, and not the Jewes, Rom. 9. 30, 31. he answers it, verse 32. viz. they sought it by the works of the Law; but if it be otherwise with thee, that in Christ thy righteousness and strength is, then thou mayst glory; so that now thou shalt have peace againe, against all the condemning of conscience, Satan, and God himself.
But have you seen your nakedness, known, and stood convinced of your vi…eness, and have heard the voyce of God condemning thee for thy sinful, though civil life, and been afraid, and hereupon you have reformed your life, lamented your course, set upon some duties, gone to Christ for strength against some corruptions, and you have had it, and you have looked about you, and have been ready to say, If the Lord saves not me, who should he? and so have sowen these leaves and skinnes together to cover your shame; and now you are well, being strangers to this true righteousness, you shall never see the Lord in peace, if you die thus. Or if thus, you see not Christ to be all, sin is not your shame, but you lie in it, and holiness is not your glory; and hence you esteem it not, but it's a common thing to you, if that was, then it would be your glory to be like Christ, and to live to him: Know it thou art not yet ready, for thou only seest the Garment, and you catch at it, but the Lord helps you not by faith to put it on.
SECT. VII.
2. VVHen the soul is filled with the Spirit of Christ, when there is not only some of the workings of the Spirit in the soul, but the soul is filled with the Spirit; for this was the wound of the foolish Virgins, they had Lamps, outward Profession, and glorious, which was a work of the Spirit, and some dipping of their week in the oyle, some lighter superficial changes, and works of grace in their hearts; but they had not oyle in their Vessel, they had not plenty and fulness of the Spirit; some unripe eares there were, but not full; and hence they were to buy when the Lord Jesus came; but the wise had.
The blood and righteousness of Christ, ever brings the plenty of the Spirit of Christ, hence 2 Cor. 5. 5. earnest of the Spirit.
I speak not now of extraordinary fulness, which Prophets and Apostles had, nor of that fulness which is in glory, as if we must have that here, but of that which the Saints attaine to in this life, every one according to his need and measure of capableness of the same; the Spirit of love is not dropt, but shed into the heart; the Spirit of God in them, is not a Spirit of some light affection, dying affection, but of eternal life, Rom. 8. 2, 3. The spirit of mourning doth not only drip upon them, but it's poured down upon them, Zach. 12. 10. the spirit of wisdome doth not only give them light and knowledge, but Marvellous Light, 1 Pet. 2. 9.
I have opened this at large; only three signes now I shall give you to discerne this Spirit by.