The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 2 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Of Christs coming, and his awakening sleepy Christians.
VERSE 7. Then all the Virgins arose and trimmed, &c.
SECT. 1.
IN these words to vers. 10. is set down the effect which the cry had upon the Virgins.
First, Upon all of them in general, in this seventh verse.
Secondly, Upon the foolish in particular, in the next verses.
First the effect it wrought upon all of them in general, both good and bad, is set down in two things. 1. They did all arise, i. e. they were throughly awakened out of their secure condition. 2. Being awakened they fell to their work, which was to trim their lamps, as to beautifie and adorn their lamps, which had now lost their …light and bea… ty by soiling themselves, and all through neglect; now they trimmed them, when first, they wiped off the soil; secondly, made search for that which was necessary for the shining glory of them; Thus far the foolish trimmed their lamps, who yet did not find that oil in their vessels, which was the main thing to beautifie them indeed, which the wise had; so that they all trimmed their lamps; the wise trimmed theirs indeed; the foolish theirs, so well as they could.
That the serious real apprehension of the nearness of Christs coming, is enough to awaken throughly the most secure Virgens: Observation 1.I say, if Virgins (especially that have been awakened to know any thing of the Lords coming) this will awaken them; for when the cry was made He cometh, now they all arose; whilst he did tarry as they thought, then they sleep; but when the cry comes, that he is near and coming, oh now they awake.
This coming is meant either of his coming to the last Judgement, or of his coming to particular Judgement immediately at and after death: I shall apply my self chie…ly to the coming of Christ at death to his people, because this doth chiefly concern us; the near approach of this will awaken, when apprehended near.
Rom. 13. 11. When the Apostle would awaken them out of security, Your salvation now is nearer than when you first believed, i. e. that perfect salvation which is at that time; now if the apprehension that it is nearer than at first awakens, much more when it is apprehended so indeed. Iam. 5. 8, 9. There was it seems divers that were oppressed, and they ready to faint, and forsake the Lord, and wait no more; what therefore doth he do? the coming (saith he) of the Lord draweth nigh.
1 Sam. 12. 19. When Samuel told them before that misery should come if they would have a King, they cared not; now when thunder came, that they saw death and the Lord near them, now they feared, and cryed, and repented; Oh we dye, say they, pray for us: It is with the Soul as it is with Sea-men, when they first set out in the Main, if the wind be good, and all things well, they take their rest and sleep, though going nearer every day than other; but when they apprehend they are near the shore, now they look out, though in the night; so here.
SECT. II.
BEcause here a man sees an end of his sinful way,Reason 1. and of all his delights which have bound him up in the bonds of security; a soft bed, and an easie pillow, and much feeding in a place of rest, will procure much sleeping; the heart of a man would never be secure, if it had not some delight or other to quiet it self withal; now at Christs coming there is an end of it, then a man is stript naked of all his greatness and honor, friends, blessings; and when a man sees an end, and is come to an end of a sinful way, now all a mans delights and hopes perish; the beginning of a sinful course is sweet and beautiful (like pictures seen afar off beautiful) but the end is gal and woormwood; for every sinful secure course is sweet in appearance, or indeed; if only in hope, and conception (as in a dream) when the end comes, all a mans hopes perish. If indeed it hath been sweet, now there's the more grief; now my heart, my life, my blood must be taken from me, and what profit is there now in this my stubborn way! when a man is sinking, and the boat is breaking, what a miserable wretch now, Lord help! hence Ezek. 7. 3, 6. when an end is come, now they fling their silver in the streets; Oh the stumbling-block of mine iniquity, verse 18, 19. now they shall seek peace and shall not find it, verse 25. now they shall seek a vision of the Prophet, verse 26. Like a man that is drawn into a fair way, and is out of that his way, when he comes to an end, and is forsaken of all and left in a wood, now what's the profit?
Because at his coming there is the entrance and passage into eternity,Reason 2. and into an eternal state of weal or wo; now though the apprehension of the end of a secure sinful way, may and will awaken, yet when eternity is apprehended it will amaze; for this time is but a little spring or river which runs into eternity, and carries all men living down with it to eternity: Now when men see an end of time, and the beginning of eternity, and themselves posting thereto, it is as when a man sees himself floating upon the waters, where there's no bottom, and all stay gone, though he hath been long secure, now he will cry out if he sees it. It is with men now, as it is with those that are ready to be cast down from some Towr, it makes the heart tremble, oh! where shal I alight! oh it's impossible but if men do apprehend eternity, and that also near unto them, but it will awaken them; it will make a stout, stony-hearted Saul to run to Urim; it will make Kings and Princes run to Monasteries, and men to Cells and Deserts; It will make the proudest Felix tremble when Paul reasons of Judgement to come. It's usually the first thing that doth awaken the people of God; eternity doth amaze them, and them that have fallen to all …asciviousness. Oh eternity!
Because of the terror at the coming of the Lord;Reason 3. Revel. 6. ult. to them that be unprovided and unprepared; hence it is, and will be, when an evil is near, fear will flie out: Men as men will do it, unless they be walking blocks and bruits. For,
1. Then they are to stand naked before the Lord so great and holy.
2. Then they shall have all their sins set in order, Psal. 50. 21. and especially those secret sins which they never saw, and whereby they did perfect their own perdition.
3. Then the final sentence past, never to be recalled again, and they shall know it; for if there might be a day to repent, then some hope; but if not, o… this awakens.
4. Then to be surrendred up into the hands of Devils, to be kept by that Jaylor in Prison, 1 Pet. 3. 19. until the coming of the great day; and so to be kept in their custody, and to be in their fellowship, looking back, and mourning for time mis-spent, looking to time to come, shortly to meet my body, and then to be parted for ever from the Lord! oh when this evil is apprehended, it will awaken a man to search and look about him.
SECT. III.
HEnce see a great cause of the deep and long security of many a man,Vse 1. and that in Virgin-Churches under all awakening means, Ordinances and Providences of God; men put far from them this day of death, and time of Christs coming, they think seldom of it, come not near to it, nor make it near to them; sometime they complain of a dead sluggish spirit, secure heart, and yet remain so, and wonder sometime at the reason of it why it shou'd be so; why? this is one reason of it, either you think not of this coming of the Lord, or see it not near, even at the door, but number many days to your selves, and this is the cause of it, you do not lodge in, nay look to your Coffins, and walk to your graves side often, and so stand there and hear the cry, and see the Lord a coming; there will be more in what I say than what you see at first blush of this truth; but this I know, and the Word proves it, universal security ariseth from hence. As for instance.
1. Why do men minde the things of the world so much? that there is such care for them, such eager desire after them, that many times prayer is neglected, Sabbaths neglected, when will they be at an end? God neglected, Souls of wife, children servants, a mans own soul neglected and overgrown with nettles; that there is such an high opinion, dreams of worldly goods, and when a man hath them, then at rest; because, with the glutton, they think they have goods for many a year; and hence we shall see when a man waketh, death is near to him; and when it is near to a man, now he thinks he hath been deceived in all the things of the world, that they are not good for him, 1 Cor. 7. 29. The time is short, and the fashion of the world passeth away: Nothing makes these things so sought after and good but only esteem; now this is because men look only to things present.
2. Why do mens hearts sink with the meanness of their outward condition, and the troubles of it? (for this is security) it is because of this, they do not remember the nearness of the coming of the Lord; it is but a little while longer, and then the God I have chosen will alone be sweet, and he will make me amends for all my troubles, and therefore let me bear up my head a little while. Psal. 39. when Davids heart began to be troubled by seeing others prosperity, his own misery, Lord (saith he) make me to know my end and the measure of my days, mine age is as an hand breadth; hence ver. 7. Lord what hope I for? truly my hope is in thee.
3. Why are men pu…t up with their own excellencies, and filled with such pride and high conce…s of themselves, sometimes of their beauty, sometimes of their apparel, sometime their friends, sometime their esteem, and they value themselves much by this? men consider not the coming of the Lord, which shall stain the pride of all glory, Isa. 23. 8. and that this time is near.
4. Why do people complain they cannot prize the Lord or his Ordinances as they could? why do men on their death-beds then prize it, then pray, then hear? then oh a little mercy, then send for Moses, then the Lord is righteous; and if he shew mercy, never such a pattern as I, because now death and Christs coming is near: you do therefore undervalue the gain of Ordinances, because of this;Jer. 9. 20, 23. if you did, you would glory in nothing but the Lord, Ier. 9. 21, 23.
5. Why do men go up and down without any assurance of the Lords love, or the truth of any grace, and that after conviction? why do men upon their deathbeds seek for it, and then fall a searching, and then open their estates, and then desire peace? because the coming of the Lord is near; you put the day of the Lord far from you; if you saw it near, you would get on your armor in readiness against the day of battel; if your Husband be at door, you would get on your apparel, Psal. 89. 46, 47, 49.
6. Why is so much time spent unfruitfully, that a Christan is not abundant in doing and receiving good? who is the better for thy speeches, for thy prayers, for thy example? when Moses Psal. 90. had numbered mens days, then v. 17. stablish thou the work of our hands upon us; Look upon a Christian at first conversion, he thinks he shall not live long; it's strange to see what prayers, what tears; how fruitful, how diligent he is; Oh therefore see your sore this day! 'tis nigh almost, O therefore up and be doing.
SECT. IV.
OH therefore,Vse 2. if ever you would be freed from this infectious, this damning sin and plague of security, make the coming of the Lord near unto you, and come you near unto it, be ever near it; number your days, they are soon told over, and often think of your latter end when the Bridegroom comes; for this will awaken you out of your secure fits, and make you fall hard to your work.
First, This will make you do much work for the Lord in a little time; when Moses was to be gathered to his Fathers, now he provides for the Church, now he instructs the people more than ever concerning their e…ates, &c.
Secondly, It will be very sweet; it is but a very little while though it be bitter, and it will put strength to do it; work is wearisom for want of strength; so Christ's work is wearisom, because we want strength; now this doth put strength into the soul, Iam. 5. 8, 9.
Thirdly, It will be very glorious; works even of dying men are very glorious and successful: Speeches of living (yet dying Christians) sink deep; for then God is near unto us when we are near unto him, and see things as they are; and hence such speeches are commonly blest to men; the speeches and works and carriages of Christ were never so glorious, as when most near his end.
SECT. V.
Object. BUt should … Christian in Christ use this as a motive to stir up his heart, or no? this is mockery, this Philosophy sends men to; doth Divinity do so? a Christian must be acted by love, not fear.
Answ. 1. That which God hath sanctified for this end we may make use of for the attainment of it; now God hath sanctified afflictions, death, and the fear of them for this end, to awaken the secure sinner; Iehosaphat fears and proclaimeth a fast; Noah feared and built an Ark; Christ himself to the Church of S…rdis (to awaken her) professeth he will come as a thief in the night suddenly, 2 Pet. 3. If the heavens shall be dissolved, what manntr of persons should we be: It is true, it is hypocrisie for a man to be led only by fear; but it is prophaness (the original of the Sadduces) not to be terrified at all; it is not hypocrisie to be awakened partly by fear to the apprehension of these things; for God hath sanctified them for this end, and though these do not work grace (where there was none before) barely, yet the awakening of conscience, is that whereby the Lord prepares for grace; and this is good in its kinde; and it stirs up grace where it was before, as here this cry makes the Virgins to kindle their oyl, and set that a burning.
Objection 2. But the time is not near; Should I apprehend an untruth?
Answ. It may be 'tis near; the apprehension of this is not false, and this the Lord gives verse 13. as the ground of constant watch, for you know not when he comes; now if men love their goods, they will watch.
2. It is near; if you had but wisdom to see into eternity, and the nature of time, you would say so also, Psal. 90. 4. A thousand years are but as yesterday, and as a watch in the night. Vers. 5. our time is as a sleep, short and vain. Ver. 6. it is but as a flower of one days glory; nay, it is but as a thought, vers. 9. It is so when you see things as they are, and you will account it so. Oh therefore let me beg this of you, make Christs coming, and death near to you, tha… you may be delivered from your dead palsies, deep slumbers, and dying sick sleeps; especially seeing the signs of the Lords coming to reckon with you, do you think to escape? Masters that betrust Servants with most, will they call others to account, to whom they have betrusted less, and not you? what people under heaven be trusted with more mercies and liberties than we! and do you think he is gone to a far Country, and will never return? He let Palatine and other Churches enjoy the means long, he summons them to an account by famine, sword, and pestilence, wilde beasts, and cruel Souldiers; and shall he never ride in his circuit this way? yes verily: Do you boast in the goodly stones of this Temple? If the Lord by your security be despised, and his Messengers, and Ordinances, and Kingdom, he will not leave one stone upon another: When will this be? not yet: that's true; yet awake at the signs of it, Mat. 24. Wars, rumors of wars, famine, aerthquakes, deceivers that come in the name of Christ, Apostacy of Professors, whence many com… to be offended, Divisions and scatterings of one Brother against another, Iniquity abounding in the World, and Love growing cold in Churches; If these be not amongst us now, we have the less cause to fear; if so, have we not cause to awake one hour considering our time is nigh! if not, yet Christs time is nigh of coming to particular persons.
SECT. VI.
Quest. HOw shall I make it near?
Answ. Truly till the Lord teach us the number of our days, we can never do it: yet three things do;
First, Convince thy soul of the sin and evil of looking after to morrow, and reaching after that time which is to come, Prov. 27. 1. 1. It is none of thine. …. Nothing draws the heart so much from God. 3. You will never find what you expect hence; these are lying vanities, therefore come not to these wells.
Secondly, Either thou wantest assurance, then fear his coming, for fear will make misery present, and so awaken; and hope (è contra) good present: Or thou hast assurance; then love his coming, see all thy good wrapt up there; and love will make things absent beloved, and present comfort in the thoughts of them; as wicked men that love the things of this life, and are in certain hopes to have them, they oft rejoyce in the hopes; because the good is present, they reckon upon it as theirs already.
Thirdly, See how near you are unto the Lord Jesus: 1. That you are made for the Lord, not to enjoy these things; they are made for you, and not you to serve them; because God hath called you out of this world, from the grave, hell, sin, to life; now the next is glory, 2 Cor. 5. 3, 4, 5.
2. That now there's nothing but thy breath, thy body between thee and Jesus Christ; when this shell is broken, thou art with the Lord, and shalt see him with open face; this will make you look for the day of delivery.