The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 2 · Chapter 4
CHAP. VI.
Christs absence the cause of security in his Churches.
SECT. I.
THat Christs absence, or tarrying long from the Churches, is an occasion (though mans corruption) of all security in the Churches.Observation 4.
While Chirst delays the Bride sleepeth; look as it was with the Israelites, when Moses went first from them up to the mount, they had no speech of making a Calf; but when he staied long from them, now they make it, and make merry with it; so it is here, Exod. 32. 1. The holy Apostle notes this to be in the last days, 2 Pet. 3. 3, 4. Men shall say Where is the promise of his coming? all things remain as they were; and hence scoffers (it may be with the tongue) at least in the heart, and so walking after their own lusts; hence Matth. 24. 49. you see an evil servant smite his fellow servants (what is the reasons of divisions between men?) one smites with the tongue, the other with the hand, and the other suffers; (and to eat and drink with the drunken) it is a sign of a secure man when (though he falls not into a prophane course, but) he can bear with it in others, to sit by and see others sin without check; what is the cause of this? he saith (not with his tongue, but in his heart, My Lord delays his coming: The very scope of the parable i… to shew the sin of men herein, and to prevent it by watchfulness.
SECT. II.
Quest. HOw and why doth this occasion and breed security?
Answ. 1. In that Christs absence from the world makes him to be much forgotten in the world (out of sight out of minde) especially at those times when men are ready to be overcome by sloth; now forgetfulness of God is the beginning of all the deepest security that can fall upon men, Deut. 32. 18, 19, 20. whence the Lord saith, I will hide my face from them, so as they shall not see me, but I will see them and what their end shall be, and hence this is made the begining of returning to the Lord, Psa. 22. 27, 28. All Nations shall remember and turn, for the Kingdom is the Lords.
Secondly, Because the absence of Christ keeps those things from being seen which should awaken, and which sensibly do awaken; that as it is within the night, when there is little noise, and darkness over-spreads all things, it is hard now to be kept from sleep, when the curtains are drawn; so while Christs is absent, it is a kind of night (his coming called the day, and the day of the Lord) because the things of the Lord are hid from men: And those are these two chiefly.
1. The error of the Lord and the wrath to come; why did men sleep all the Sermon long (which lasted one hundred and twenty years) when Noah preached? because they knew not of the flood; so shall it be in the days of Christs coming, men know not what wrath is; the thoughts of this kept Pauls eye waking, 2 Cor. 5. 9, 10, 11, 12.
2. The exceeding riches and weight of glory that shall crown all the Saints; hence all the faithful have been abundant both in doing and suffering for the Lord; (2 Cor. 4.) It is not worthy the glory which shall be revealed: Hence, Heb. 10. 34. They took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, because they had in heaven a more abiding sustance; they overlooked all things here when they saw that. When these two things are seen (which are the last things that shall continue) it would awaken; but painted fire, and a painted Kingdom never draws a mans heart much; so neither do these work upon securelings; or if they do see them, they soon are hid from them again, their light decaying, being not like the morning but declining Sun; and though the Saints do see them, yet they are very apt to lose (for a time) the sight of them, especially if the Lord tarrieth; and hence Heb. 10. they had need of patience; but when the day comes who can sleep?
Thirdly, In regard of his absence, do things of the world present and keep their glory before the eyes of men; for what is the reason that worldly things (which men in their judgements say are vain) yet they are of such price with men! It is with them as it is with Glow-worms and Stars that keep their shining, and are very glorious because the Sun is set; so Christ is hid in his glory, and whilst men are led more by sence than by faith, men doat upon these things; they know nothing more vain, yet nothing more glorious: When Christ comes a man shall see all the world, the honor, comforts, wealth, crowns, greatness of it buried before his eyes; and when an end of these things shall be seen, now the Lord will be precious; as doubtless when they saw the Ark floating upon the water, happy are they that are there might they say; and hence Mal. 3. ult. those that said the proud were happy, what was the reason of it? but because of this, The day of the Lord was not yet come to make up his Iewels? Now when once the eye is bewitched with the glory of the world, nothing causeth security sooner; as strange fancies in the head work a man first asleep: Psal. 73. When David beheld the prosperity of the wicked, he began to dislike all Religion, and to account it simplicity to be holy, until at last he saw the end of these things.
Fourthly, Because in Christs absence men feel not the evil of sin which doth befall them in their security, nor yet the evil of their own hearts; for if men should be presently punished, and smitten by some revenging invisible hand of God upon them after every sin, and as soon as first they begin to sleep, you should never see the heart secure; and hence the Devils live in horrors daily, in apprehension of the judgment of the great day; thus it will be at Christs coming, then the secret things of darkness shall be brought to light; but now is a time of forbearance, hence a carnal heart is set to do wickedly, and to go on securely, Eccles. 8. 11.
Fifthly, Because while Christ is absent, conscience lyes still most commonly, and seldom is throughly awake, and hence a man sleeps; for conscience is the Lords witness, accuser, and notary; now the witness then speaks most fully and clearly when the Judge is come: Now however God doth awaken some mens consciences throughly in this life, yet it is not universal, but in few, to be thorowly awakened, and hence men are very secure, Isa. 33. 14. Who shall dwell with everlasting burning, &c?
SECT. III.
HEnce we see the vileness of the hearts of men,Vse 1. that Christ his absence (which time is given to us to make us watch) should make us secure; that men should turn day into night, a day of forbearance, into a night of forgetfulness; for if the Lord should not delay his coming, how many thousands would be swept away before any peace made with God, or before any work finished for God! now he in pity gives such days, delays his coming for this end, and do we thus requite the Lord? 2 Pet. 3. 9. Christ himself doth his work while it is light; the night cometh wherin no man can work, Ioh. 12. 35, 36. Now what a crossing of the Lord is this? If he should come, thou shouldst be consumed by him; and if he doth not come, you will grow secure before him.
Hence see the reason why the hearts of men are so secure in times of health and peace,Vse 2. but they cry out and look about them in times of sickness, and when the approach of death is near, because Christ now begins to come, and Christs presence is near in great terror, and severity, and glory; but be these are afar off; now the soul begins to see Christ, and how he must shortly stand naked alone (stript of all comforts and friends) before an all-seeing God; and now they look about for evidence; but before, the Lord would not come as yet, he delays his coming, I may live many years and provide thus and thus for my children, &c. Oh men complain of secute careless hearts, and the cause is this, they see not this day a coming.
Hence see one special way to prevent and remove security when it is fallen upon the hearts of any,Use 3. and that is by daily setting before you the coming of the Lord; the Apostles penned this, and Saints believe this, 1 Thess. 1. ult. I am perswaded some men have had in their dreams the visions of the Almighty, of which Iob speaks, and have been awakened in terror and fear, even with the dream of it; but how would this awaken if seen and beheld whilst indeed you are awake! Many Monkish spirits have been much awakened in their superstitious way by this; but the spirit of a Paul will be much more; for by this means he awakened all the world to look about them, 2 Cor. 5. 11. And for himself, this did make him exercise himself, Acts 24. 15, 16. so it will be with you; you will not only be awake your selves, but keep all awake about you; and this is not legal neither thus to do. It is certain if you complain of security, I dare complain against you, that this is the cause; you look upon the comming of the Lord as a long time off, and see it not daily; it converted some in scoffing Athens to the Fith; much more (if converted) doth it awaken. Let us therefore commend Three things to you.
SECT. IV.
First, MAke the coming of the Lord real, see it real, and set it really (as it shall be) before your eyes: Heb. 9. ult. to them that look for him, &c. Why do not men look for him? truly, very few do look for him really; it is only a report, a noise with many men; where there is the power of grace, it presents things as they are, which shall be so; Faith is the substance of things not seen, it puts them in their being; it is the evidence of things not seen, for otherwise it will never work upon you. Especially think on these Four things at that day.
1. The consuming of all things here in the world, which your hearts are so ready to doat upon, and of all carnal and fleshly excellencies which you trust unto, 2 Pet. 3. 11. Seeing these things shall be consumed, what manner of persons ought we to be! If a man that is to make a sea voyage, did know that whatever he brought to shore beside Gold and Pearls, should be consumed as soon as he comes to shore, he would not fraught his ship with those things: if men were assured here is a house where you and yours shall be burnt, they would set it elsewhere; men come from one Country to another, because sin will consume.
2. The amazing glory of Christ Jesus (when Christ shall come as a deliverer to refresh they sad heart) and all his Saints at that day; look upon Christ as sitting on the clouds of fire, raising the dead, then them that are alive changed in the twinckling of an eye, coming with all his Angels, Heaven left empty of them, and Saints sitting at his right hand shining like the Sun, so that all the word shall stand amazed at them, and then, when Judgement is done, up they go to Heaven (the third Heaven) with a shout, and so be ever with the Lord. And then
3. Consider the fierce wrath upon Reprobates, who shall rise like Toads coming out of their holes in winter time, standing before Christ's Tribunal, crying out of the day that ever they were born, and receiving their final doom; imagine the silence while the Lord is pronouncing the sentence; and when past, a cry; and then Christ to depart, and shut up himself in Heaven with his Saints, the Reprobate never to see him nor his face any more; are these things tales, fables, notions? if they be, blot out the Scripture; but if real, oh then who can but awake! If God intends mercy to you, the thoughts of these things will awaken you, you shall see them really; if not, they shall awaken you by feeling of them.
4. Consider how many will be found too light at that day.
Secondly, Make this day present: Optick glasses will take within them the present image of things afar off; a Mud-wall cannot give the form of them; so by Faith look at these things that be to come as near for if we see really the Lords coming, but we look upon it as a thing that is afar off, it will not affect: Now a thing may be present to Faith which is not to sence; It may be the last and great coming of the Lord is not very nigh (although we are doubtless in the last times) but the beginning of this, thy Petty-Sessions before that general Assize, may be nigh. Oh therefore make it present.
Quest. How shall we make it present?
Answ. 1. By pondering that speech of Christ, spoken to that end, Matth. 24. 44. In an hour you think not of he comes; so that either thy time is, when thou thinkest it is nigh, and then you attain the thing; or when far off, why then is the time, and that he will not come presently is more then you can say; you see with wrong eyes, and wrong the Lords patience.
2. By comparing the present time with eternity to come; for look as it is with base and little things, look upon them in themselves, they are not base, but compared with things excellent, as the Prophet sheweth, Isa. 40. 17. so the time of this life, grant it be never so long, look upon it in self, it is long; but compared with eternity, it is exceeding short: Set a prick alone and you may perceive it, but when made at the beginning of a line it is scarce perceptible; this time of life upon which we sit is but a point of eternity: Oh eternity will amaze you, and make this time short, yea, nothing; Moses hence forsook Pharoahs honor, because of the pleasures of sin for a season; and Paul calls afflictions short, when he saw the eternal glory which should be revealed: Oh that you could think this time to be as the delivery of a childe by many pangs into the world, so you by many sorrows are passing a short passage to eternity.
3. By making earthly things nothing, or not as great things: A mans friend is night to him, but there be trees and hills between them, and if these were down, or he could get above them, he would easily see and say, Oh I see him coming, he is even at the door, Iames 5. 8. So Christ is nigh unto us, and we to him; but the things of the world, mountains, and hills, and cattel, and ground, this and that stands between us and our sight, that we cannot see the Lord; these things are so great, that the Lord is little, that though near, we cannot see him; now when God cuts down these things at sickness, or when we can get above the world, now we can see them whiles we look at them as they are, 2 Cor. 4. Prov. 18. 11. The rich mans wealth is a tower in his conceit (all things are swayed by conceit) pull down that, now you make all naked before you to see the Lord nigh.
Thirdly, Do this daily; else you will grow secure by little and little: Oh that I could prevail with you to set before you once a day this time! how would it keep your hearts from dreaming and doating upon these things: When any sorrow, that day will refresh; 2. When any duty done, that day will recompence▪ 3. When in want, yet full at that day; 4. When in misery now, blessed then. When a man is ready with light and lamp at all watches of the night, oh blessed then! you can hardly keep from security and carelesness by this, how will you then do without it? you will die in security.
SECT. V.
LEt this be a warning to all those who have passed the first age of their Christian life, after you have waited long and tarried for the Bridegroom, take heed of security, and think this may occasion it, viz. The Bridegrooms delay: In the first heat of your youthful affections, there's not that danger then as now, lest you grow decrepit, passive and dull; and therefore think, Whatever else I do, I will be sure to keep this door, it shall not come in here, and yet do we not see men fall here! one would think it should not be so in these times, when God calls so many of his servants to Heaven to him, and is hacking at so many posts and pillars of this Tabernacle; especially considering withal that it is no time to seek great things to your selves: Thou shalt have thy life for a prey (as he said to Baruch) Who is it that thinks it long to death, that is within a days walk of his grave! Oh if you have your life, you are well; you may be glad of a place to die in.