The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Part 2 · Chapter 9

The Parable of the Ten Virgins · Part 2 · Chapter 9

p. 52CHAP. IX.

Of Christians, trimming their Lamps; and how holiness is the Christians glory.

SECT. 1.

And trimmed their Lamps.

THE word (foreign) signifies adorned, beautified their lamps, made clean or cleansed; It is the same word which is used 1 Tim. 2. 9. Womens adorning let it not be with pearls, but good works.

Quest. What is the glory of the Lamp?

Answ. First, When the filth is wiped away, which did defile it.

Secondly, When oyl is gotten, and the lamp is lighted; now its in its full trim as it was at first when they went out; whilst they were sleeping, their lamps not being looked into, began to lose their shining glory; now they recover them.

p. 53Object. But how came the foolish to trim their Lamps?

Answ. They did endeavor it, and did something that way, as is apparent from the context, and so they trimmed them so far as they could reach; but the compleat and full adorning of them was this of the wise. And therefore look as by oyl in the vessel is meant the eternal anointing of the Spirit of grace within, so by shining is meant the glorious profession arising from it, as the adorning of women, 1 Tim. 2. 9. is their holy conversation.

That the Spirit of holiness abiding in the hearts, and shining in the lives ofObservation 2. Saints, it is their excellency, ornament and glory: This adorns the Virgins lamps; through security they began to lose their glory; Now when they prepare their lamps, they adorn their lamps; and this is their glory.—

2 Cor. 3. ult. We are changed into the same image from glory to glory; grace and holiness is glory. Ephes. 5. 27. Christ presents a glorious Church; wherein? without spot or wrinckle, and holy before the Lord. 1 Thess. 4. 4. Sanctification and honor are joyned together.

SECT. II.

Quest. WHat Spirit of holiness is it which is a Christians glory?

Answ. It is not every patcht profession of holiness which is a Christians true glory; for by what means is the name of God more blasphemed by the wicked of the world, than by those that profess holiness, yet break out into scandalous sins! Rom. 2. 14. it is a wonder if a prophane man be good a little; but it is a greater wonder and scandal if a professor be bad a little. Neither is it a most glorious appearance of holiness; this is deceit, craft, and hypocrisie, not a glory: A Stage-player that acts the part of a King, wants the glory of a King; and hence Paul opposeth himself to these, 2 Cor. 5. 12. But when there is first an exemplary holiness, arising secondly, from the fulness of the Spirit of grace within, as here in the Virgins, a shi…ing profession from an inward Spirit, when Christ hath attained the end of offering up himself, that men are a peculiar people, zealous of good works: Suppose the lamp doth burn, yet if not for the end it was made, so that a man can scarcely see his way, nor others by it, its glory is much lost: Now the end of the Spirit of holiness is this, the end of Christ's death and ministery is this; Phil. 2. 13, 14. and though they may speak evil, yet 1 Pet. 2. 12. they may glorifie God in that day; when it is with men as it is with those, Z…ch. 8. …lt. We have seen God is in you; when a man maintains a sleepy careless profession and name, the lamp now wants its trim; when lamps are put under bushels, they lose their glory.

Quest. 2. Before whom is this their glory?

Answ. 1. Before the eyes of God the Father, Ioh. 12. 26. He that shall serve me, him shall my Father honor; and though the world honor them not, yet they shall be spectators of it.

2. Before Jesus Christ his eyes, Psal. 45. 11. Forget thy country, and thy fa…hers house, so the King shall take pleasure in thy beauty.

3. Before all the people of God themselves, 2 Thess. 1. 4, 5. So that we glory of you among all the Churches; every one will be speaking of such; oh there's one of a thousand; hardly shall you go into his company but you shall get some good, and life, and heat from him.

4. Before Hypocrites many times, who of all others are the greatest haters of the ways of holiness and the power of godliness▪ hence Herod, Mar. 6. 20. loved Iohn, because a holy man, not because a deep Schollar, or a great man; p. 54hence, while Ioshua and the Elders live, the people serve the Lord; and while Iehoiada lives, Ioash is forward; the greatest Monarchs fall down here.

5. In the eyes of bad men, and hence Deut. 4. 6, 7. when they kept the Statutes of the Lord, what nation so great, as hath such Laws, and so wise also!Jer. 33. 9.Jer 33:9 this is their glory before all the world, at least in the consciences of all men, which is their better part, 2 Cor. 5. 11. we are manifest in their consciences; and hence the worst say often, if all were such as they are, &c.

Quest. 3. When is it their glory?

Answ. 1. In this life (as hath been already shewed) in midst of reproaches, the Spirit of glory, 1 Pet. 4. 14. in midst of weaknesses, Davids heart was perfect.

2. At the great and last day; let a man by his wisdom, conquests, excellencies get himself a name, yet when death comes, his glory perisheth; if it doth last, yet not long; the greatest Monarchs have been like a mighty wind, filled the world with a noise for a time, and then down; but at the last day, then Oh their shame, what everlasting contempt shall they arise unto! But this shall be our glory at the last day, 1 Pet. 1. 5, 6, 7. which shall be to glory and praise at the comming of our Lord; and it is said, then shall the righteous shine as the Sun; and then all the world shall stand and admire, and wonder at them. And

3. Throughout all eternity this shall be their glory, even an everlasting name unto them, better than the name of Sons and Daughters; Isa. 56. 5.Isa 56:5when the wicked shall see them all at the right hand of God, and gnash their teeth, that themselves are shut out, when the Lord and his Saints shall take infinite delight one in another, Luk. 12. 37.

SECT. III.

Quest. 4. WHy is this a Christians glory, excellency, and honor?

Answ. 1. In regard of the baseness of other things wherein men do use to glory; the wise man in his wisdom, the strong man in his strength, the rich man in his wealth: There are Three things which make these base.

First, These things make a man not the more to be accepted of God; the Lord respects not, values not the worth of any man by these things; and to make all the world know this, he staineth the pride of all glory, and chuseth the poor and foolish things of the world to confound the wise; a wise man will never respect the horse the more because it carries store of rich treasures, he will not fall down and reverence it for this; hang Swine about with pearls, who honors them the more? and will a wise God respect a man the more for these things? 1 Pet. 3. 5. What is that that is of great price with God? Holiness is of great price with God: And what though all the world honor a man, and a man honoreth himself, while this is wanting?

Secondly, All these things leave a man dead under the reign of Satan, power of his sin and dominion of death; and hence Ier. 9. 24. Let no man glory in his wisdom, &c. Death is entred into your windows; take any bondman bound with fetters (though golden) doth any man account him the more glorious? a Prince that is made a vassal and slave to every base fellow, is he the more glorious? no: So whiles men lye under the reign of death; stick a man that is dead with flowers, what is he the more glorious? alas no! his life is gone; now the Spirit of holiness is called the Spirit of life, even of the p. 55life that never shall dye, Rom. 8. And therefore as it is said of a Flye, there is more excellency in a Gnat than in a Cedar, than in the glorious heaven, because it hath life, which the other hath not; so though men wonder at the goodly trappings of wicked men, yet the poorest and most despised Christian, that hath the Spirit of life, is more glorious.

Thirdly, Because these things only purchase the more credit and honor in the eyes of men, and that of wicked men; for 1 Cor. 5. 10. We know no man after the flesh; if they do, it is that which they account themselves beasts and fools for, as David did, Psal. 73. And what is the honor of man? it is the b…sest thing that is; for it is that which is without a man, it is no excellency within the man; it is but the thoughts of a mans head and heart, than which, what more vain, what more mutable? nay, 'tis but the dreams of a mans head, for they are mistakes: If all the town should dream another was a King, who yet were indeed a Beggar (which when they awake they see) what were he the better for this? Paul, 2 Cor. 11. 23. how he doth glory in priviledges, which were better and more goodly hangings than these… this (saith he) I speak as a fool; and what be these a Christians glory? no surely.

Answ. 2. Because that is a Christians glory which is Christs glory.

First, It is that glory wherein the glory of Christ consists, Psal. 45. 2. Thou art fairer than the children of me…, full of grace is thy lips; and 2 Cor. 3. ult. into the same image from glory to glory: Indeed Christ's greatness in governing the world is his glory, but it is because it is mixt with such holiness, Isa. 6. 1, 2, 3. Phil. 2. 8, 9. he humbled himself, and this hath given him a name, and shall be his name for ever; this is that which makes the Lord Jesus lovely and amiable in the eyes of all his people, Rev… 15. 4. Who would not fear thee, or thou onelyonly art holy! and so he is, for all the stars receive their light and shine with it, by this Sun only; and so the more a Christian excels in this, the more like he is to Jesus Christ, and so more glorious and lovely.

Secondly, This is that which gives him glory, …. e. so far as creatures can, which is to manifest it, and hence 2 Cor. 8. 23. which is the glory of Christ; and hence Isa. 46, 13. Israel is called the glory of the Lord; Isa. 62. 2, 3. the righteous is called the glory, and crown, and diad…m in the hand of the Lord; and as God is better than the Soul, so this, viz. to glorifie the Lord, is better than to be glorified by the Lord.

SECT. IV.

HEnce see one reason why men lose their honor, their love and respect in theUse 1. eyes of God and men; their judgements are not revere…ed, their persons not accepted, their names and practises despised; this is one reason among the rest, a decay in holiness; the lamp is defiled, the light and lustre of it going out, and who will reverence it then? 'tis admirable to see the complaints abroad.

First, Look but into Families, what is the reason there is so much discontent there, that Servants are weary of their Masters, Masters of their Servants; and there is such complaints one of another, little respect one of another? it is for want of holiness, power, and life of godliness; the Master saith, the Servant is unruly, froward, surly, flothful, unfaithful, untrusty, and must not be spoken to; the Servant saith, his Master is passionate, unkinde, wants pity to his body, and sometimes strikes him without cause, and much more careless of his soul, never instructs him, but is eaten up with the world, &c. truly this is the cause. It seems the Lord wrought upon divers in Primitive times, and p. 56the Apostle gives Servants an item, that they may glorifie God, and adorn the Gospel of the Lord Iesus; Tit. 2. 10.Titus 2:10how came Ioseph into …o…iphar's books? oh, he was very holy, and very prudent; and Ile warrant did his Masters work better when his Master was absent than before, and prayed for success in his business, as Abraham's Servant. Look but upon Husband and Wife, it is strange to see what divisions and jars there; and what's the cause of it, Wife doth not honor Husband, nor Husband honor Wife? how comes this? oh, there is little holiness seen in their private walking one with another; the woman thought the man godly; had I known this, I would have seen you a hundred miles off, &c. the man also he complains of his wife, I see now I am like to be troubled with a continual dropping, a very fury of hell, so impatient, (and the next neighbor hears of it) nothing can please her; what's the reason of this? your sin makes your shame, and there's the want of holiness, 1 Pet. 3. 3. man might be conve…ted by the Wife, and the Wife by the Husband; not that it is always so, but usually so.

Secondly, Look into Churches, what is the reason people lose their honor much in the hearts of Ministers? he respects others, but not me; and sometimes they think, now he strikes at me, and meaneth me, and then the heart swells, &c. what's the reason that Paul professeth he will come with a rod among the Corinthians? they were babes, and carnal, and contentious, and pu…t up, little love and life; and what's the reason he sets out the Thessalonians so? 1 Thess. 1. 5. because of this they did abound, and hence commended of all Saints; hence want of growth and holiness; they travel in birth till Christ be formed, and when they cannot see that, hence they are in throws for you; what's the reason Ministers lose their glory among people? I confess 'tis not always for decay here; for Iohn in prison did not lose his holiness; and hence, when they despised him, Christ commended him, and his reward was with the Lord; it was not a testimony of his unholiness, but a fore-r…nner of the end of his days, as well as of the end of his work; and hence when all Asia forsook Paul, 2 Tim. 4. 16. it was the time of his departing now at hand. But that which is the cause of it many times, is want of holiness within; and hence though men fee not, yet the Lord will not give a false testimony, nor let men do so; hence neither judgements nor their speeches reverenced; or because men see not the ancient Spirit of holiness, hence no mourning for them in secret, no holiness in speeches, they smell of the field, not walking as patterns before them, Mal. 2. 8, 9. not caring for the f…ock which Christ hath purchased with his own blood. What's the reason there is that complaint of want of love one man to another, one member to another, who are bound by covenant to it, such jars, divisions? &c. Truly nothing makes so firm an union between man and man as holiness and grace, this tieth the knot; and it is not holiness hid, but now seen; it not being seen, hence comes all your breaches, its impossible else such small things should make it: Oh a tender heart and the life of Christ is not indeed seen; a holy man exact shall never want love, that in every company scatters something, that like Christ, goes up and down doing good, healing the diseases of mens hearts; there's a man I could dye with him in my very bosom: I am perswaded the decay of holiness in the lives of men, is the cause why Sanctification is questioned as an evidence of Justification; and hence division.

Thirdly, Look abroad into the world, what is the reason the Churches lye among the pots, and are soiled with so many disgraces, that though we be the people of the Lord, yet we are not called so? why, ja…s, divisions, earthliness, want of love and mercy, murmurings, loss of former life. When Jews are shining with the glory of God, Kings and all Nations shall bring in their glory to them: Oh consider this! sin doth make you vile in Gods eyes and p. 57mans eyes: Many complain they cannot be respected, nor received; this is the cause of it, you excell not here; others take notice of your unrighteousness, unholiness of life; there's some evil in their bargaining and buying, and ill language from the people of God. Oh therefore go home and lament this, as she, The glory of God is departed from Israel; so do you here.

SECT. V.

HEnce see when the Lord doth honor us to do his work, what little causeVse 2. there is to seek honor of men (nay though all the worlds glory be taken from you) because it is honor enough to do the Lords work; would you have more honor than Christ? this was his beauty, glory, and honor; God hath an everlasting name for you, though you have disgrace by it, nay though no success, yet Isa. 49. 5. glorious in the Lords eye: Oh it was a sweet course of Barak, Iudg. 4. 9. thou shal… lose honor; that's all one, said she, Let me do the Lords work, though it be in a difficult work of pursuing the Lords enemies; what profit have you on the other side, when you seek it in your pitchers? what company? &c. this was Sauls sin, 1 Sam. 15. 30. Oh worship and honor me nevertheless this time before the people; it's his reward, and it's the Devils sin to be puft up; this pull'd down Nebuchadnezar; Herod was smote with worms, because he gave not glory to God, but took it to himself; it was a heavy speech to Eli, 1 Sam. 2. 29. Because thou honorest thy sons above me, this and that I will do unto thee. Nay though men are so holy as to honor God with their lips, yet God will blast the wisdom of the wise for it: Oh therefore let this be enough, and then you will not hunger after other honor; for this is glory and honor enough, and you have thought so, when your selves, Oh if I may but honor the Lord, it is enough.

Hence see what little cause any wicked man hath to lift up his head with any glory he hath, because the spirit of holiness, beauty and glory is departed fromUse 3. them; as when the Soul is departed from the body its glory and beauty is departed from them, it's withered; and therefore we shall read in Scripture what names the Lord gives them, as Dogs, Swine, Serpents, a generation of vipers, painted Sepulchres, Devils in the time of the greatest profession, as Iudas, Ioh. 6. Wilde beasts, and that in the greatest outward glory; and hence the four Monarchies of the world are resembled to such beasts, Bears, Leopards, &c. Dan. 7.Dan 7Thus for their persons: And as for their actions, all they do is unclean, and ignoble and hence compared to Thistles, that cannot bring forth Figs or Grapes; and hence Solomon compares them, As jewels in a Swines snout, so is a parable in the mouth of a fool, it becomes them not, it's abomination in the sight of God all that which they do, though glorious before men; and at last day they shall rise up to everlasting contempt; and it is said Isa. 66. ult. their worm shall never dye, and they shall be an abhorring to all flesh, though theyDan. 12. 2.Dan 12:2 may carry it out fair for a time; the fairest professors that by their Sorceries and enchantments deceive the people shall be filled with shame, and as the Magicians were smitten with sores they could not stand before Moses (being smitten with sores) so you shall not be able to stand before the Lord at the last day; andExod. 9. 71.Exod 9:71 look as it is with Christ and his people, their cross and shame here, it is but their preparation to their crown; and hence, when Christ was put to the most open shame, then was the day-break of his glory; so all that you glory in, which God gives, 'tis but a solemn preparation for your shame: And hence, when Nebuchadnezar is at his highest pitch and thoughts of glory, then is his downfall; p. 58if a man should have a crown upon his head, all honor given him, and it should be whispered to him, This is but a preparation to your execution, what little glory could he take in that? but rather fall a weeping as Paul, Phil. 3. 18, 19. when he saw some that made their belly their God, and boasted of the things of the earth, whose glory is their shame; and he speaks of them weeping: And therefore you that can sit in a chimney-corner, when you meet with your companions, hang, draw, and quarter within your selves, and censute all Churches, Ministers and Christians of a Town and Country, and if you see any sores, like flyes, go and suck them and make them worse; or if not, you can make them and imagine them, and scoff at holiness secretly; and though your consciences condemn you of wickedness, yet lift up your selves with something that you have; Oh know it, your beauty is gone; never a man but glorieth in something; so much estate, so much esteem, so much wisdom, and gifts, birth, and beauty; and now as proud as Satan, but yet a stranger to the life of God, your conversation is not above: Oh poor creature! happy were it for thee if thou wer… no man, (dying so) but the most despised of all Gods creatures, who art now abhorred of God, and shalt be the shame of all creatures another day.

SECT. VI.

HEnce if any man hath lost his glory and esteem in the consciences of theUse 4. people of God, see how to recover it; the Country is full of complaints and murmurings; among the rest this is one of the sorest that many complain of' They are not respected, they are no body; they had this and that esteem in their own Country of such Ministers, Christians, and were of this esteem; now the market is fallen here, and hence offended at every one, and cannot pass for members in many Churches; and hereupon bear a private grudge against the Church, and all Ordinances in it, and flie Towns, or sit still, and comfort themselves their conscience is clear, &c. It is with many as it is with Bristo… -stones, they are like pearls, and so they go till they come to the Jewellers; and then when tried not worth two pence; so many men never came to the trial, as here Gods providences try some men more than ever losses, sorrows; Gods Ordinances try men, and thus they are found too light; would you now recover it? Oh get a Spirit of holiness! and think, Oh I have had a high esteem of my self; but I fall short of that brokenness for my vileness, and want that esteem of, and acquaintance with the Lord Jesus, that the glory of the Lord is not to this day risen upon me; Oh then make after, and merchandise for this, Prov. 3. 14, 15, 16. Sometimes a godly man loseth this; is there not inwardly a decay of holiness… and hence God hath forsaken, and suffered to fall into some sin, so as man hath seen it; do you think the Lord will honor you in the hearts of his people, while you dishonor him? when you live in a vain dead-hearted condition, and disguise your selves, or in impen…tency for open offences either of opinion or practice; Be it far from me, saith the Lord, 1 Sam. 2. 20. them that dishonor me shall be lightly esteemed; and hence God will cut off Eli's children; you know what a sad letter Paul wrote to the C…rinthians; but when they saw the spiritual meaning, 2 Cor. 7. 14, 15. Paul boasts of them; Titus his affection was abundant toward them; if not abund…nt confession and giving glory to God, how should you look that God should else give glory to you? it's wonderful to see, how men that have been convinced of sin, and yet would hide it, how the Lord in his jealousie hath discovered them in his time; the sin hath been committed by them, and enqu…ry p. 59hath been made, and some conviction, and yet they have wound off, and cried out of wrong; the Lord hath left them to worse evils; And so the Lord will deal with men; and so I say, hide your sin, it shall be your shame at last, and the Lord will never honor you in the consciences of his people till you out with it, and confess it; Iannes and Iambres, their madness shall be made known at last; I speak not this that men should make holiness a bridge to their own honor, and so to stand upon Christs shoulders; but that this is the way to regain such a blessing, which an humble heart knows how to want, as well as to have.

Oh then place your glory in this; of all things in the world, a man des…res nothing more than honor; it's dearer than life, and it is that which every oneUse 5. doth d…sire; Oh beloved, hunt not after shadows, feed not your … with dreams; make not your Garl…nds of withered flowers, but in this which is your glory before God and men. Ier. 9. 24. Let not rich men glory in riches, but in this, that …e knoweth me; It was the heavy complaint the Lord took up against his people, Ier. 2. 11. That they did change their glory; the Lord himself is the glory of his people, as shining in them by his Spirit; it was the great sin of the Gentiles, Rom. 1. 23. that they changed the glory of the … God, into an image of corruptible men and beasts; so you know this is your glory; and oh now to change this glory for an image of glory! and hence given up to vile affections, to a corruptible minde; and therefore Prov. 8▪ 4, 8. Exalt her, she shall promote thee; admire at this! a man excels in nothing but what he admires at, or seeks not to excel in any thing but what he wonders at; you will never place your glory in holiness, nor excel in it, unless you admire at it, and it will then exalt you, and bring you to honor, because indeed it is your honor: Oh that God would work this, men would not be so greedy after the world, nor praise of men.

SECT. VII.

Quest. BUt how shall we come to this?

Answ. 1. Consider the example of Christ, and all the people of Christ at all times, who did not place their glory in these things, but in things above: If a man is to lay much out upon something in the market, if he be wise he will enquire of prudent men that know things, the worth of them, and then it fals out sometimes those things he esteems highly are of no value; so here, look upon Paul, Gal. 6. 14. God forbid I should glory in any thing but the cross of Christ; 1 Cor. 4. 13. When the Corinthians were puffed up with greatnes, to pull them down from this, he professeth he and others were the off-scouring of the world; and this was their glory, v…rse 16. Look upon Christ himself, he had as much excellency as could be, yet he cast it off, despised all the glory of the world, was a worm and no man; he professeth he sought no …onor of men, …ut the will of him that sent him; this was his glory.

2. Look upon the excellency of your estate in Christ, 1 Cor. 2. 21. Glory not in men, for all things are yours; take any Prince that hath a Kingdom, will he house in a cottage or spend his time and care to thatch and repair that? no, all the Kingdom is mine; and hence he will have Kingly thoughts and Kingly aims, and ends, and acts that ennoble him indeed: So here, 2 Cor. 5. 9. Knowing we have a house above, that there is but a breath between us and glory▪ we labor (are ambitious) that whether absent or present to be present to be accepted of him. The very reason why the hearts, minds, lives of men are so debased, as to seek their p. 60glory in that which is their shame, is this, they know no better estate, no greater glory; the God of glory, and Kingdom of glory, and promise of glory, and Ark, and Cherubims, and Oracles of glory in Christ have been to this day hid from their eyes; hence Heb. 12. 2. Christ for the joy set before him desp…sed the shame.

3. Make the Lord present with you, and see him shine about you in his glory; when poor men come to the Court and see no King there, they bow down to his Chair; whereas if he was seen he should have all the honor then; so when men see creatures, but see them like empty chairs, the God of glory not filling of them, we bow down to creatures, but when God is seen, now the soul gives all glory to him; a man that lives without any in his house as chief, all servants attend on him; but when the Prince comes with his train, now all his Servants with himself are too little to attend on the Prince; so here, when men come to pray, or preach, or speak, Oh how doth a wicked heart seek it self? but when the Lord is seen, now all attend on him; hence when God sends his people to honor him, he first appears to them in his glory, and it never is long out of their minds; hence Abraham forsook his own Country, Acts 7. Moses forsook Egypt, he saw God invisible, Heb. 11. 26, 27. Psal. 22. ult. All nations shall remember and turn to the Lord; when the Lord is seen, all our glory is shame, Isa. 6. and now glory in that, and make him as present as at the last day, then all shall fall down before him.

4. See how every service you perform unto him, every act of holiness, quickned by the Spirit of life is pleasing to him; if a Prince be with a man, and cannot be pleased, nothing can content him, or we hear not one word from him whether we please him or not, we shall grow weary of him at last; but to consider this, he that serves me, him will my father honor, that every cup of cold water, shall have a Disciples reward, that every groan shall be heard, that what you do to one of these little ones, you do it to Christ, and Christ takes it as kindly as done to himself, that the Lord remembers the love of your e…pousals, Ier. 2. when you follow him in a land not sown, that the comfort of all your labors, tears, sufferings, shall follow you to heaven, and for ever lodge in that blessed brest of thine; Oh Brethren, saith Paul, always abound, and spend your time here, knowing your labor is not in vain in the Lord; why do men seek to please men, and place their glory there? because men see and approve them; Oh what is this to the approbation of a God?

SECT. VIII.

OH then preserve this your glory; when men have any thing in the worldVse 6. that is their glory, their Crown their Treasure, Oh they will keep that especially; rather lose life than lose their names, and glory in the world; Oh preserve the spirit of holiness, especially in these places; this hath been this only shall be our glory; and that not in name, and yet dead, but in deed and in power we have had our Christian conversation, and that not by contenting our selves with a little, but to be exactly holy; a little spot is soon seen in your coat; you shall observe it.

1. When the Jews shall be made the glory of all the earth, their glory shall not consist then in immediate Revelations, but in Sanctification; there shall be holiness and sanctification; there shall be holiness on pots and horse bridles.

2. When the Lord will be a defence to his people, and a shadow from heat, and from the Sun! it shall be when the Lord hath purged away the filth of men by a spirit of burning; not which burns up all holiness, but filthiness and selfconfidence p. 61in any holiness, and hypocrisie, and so they shall be holy, Isa. 4. 3, 4.

3. How many men stumble by opinions, divisions, &c. (the fruits of a corrupt head, and streams of a dunghil heart) that had rather live in sorrows among enemies, than divisions among friends! Oh the spirit of people, as soon as any new Calf is made, fall down and worship it, and break the antient Land-marks which the Word hath set, and then make prognostications of all ill weather, to arise from opposing their opinion; never shall our glory be recovered till these evils are confessed and lamented, and the sin of the heart, which begat them.

4. I have wondred why so few be converted (though blessed be God, some the Lord doth pick out, a few Servants, Children and Natives) is it not because either this exemplary holiness, which is our glory, is not, or not so shini…g, but our lamps are dim? Ministers preach, and hearers are …troubled, but they then look upon scandals and offences from others, and so are beaten off again, Zach. 8. 20, 21, 22, 23. Oh therefore preserve it.

5. HOw will all the world ahhor the ways we walk in, if we miscarry?

6. God will have holy Churches, he is refining the whole world now for that end, and will do so more and more, and go on.

SECT. IX.

Quest. How shall we preserve it?

Answ. 1. Take heed of harboring an ill opinion of holiness, for then if your judgements dislike it, your tongues and your lives shall disgrace it: Take heed of imagining that First, there is no grace in Saints, only immediate actings of the Spirit; this is no spirit of holiness, no more than in Baalams Ass, through which God spake to him.

Secondly, That these graces are only common; who will seek much after that, or esteem that which is but common? this is to despise the Spirit, to contemn the blood of the Covenant, whereby the Church is sanctified.

Thirdly, That grace is so dark and obs…ure a thing always as no evidence can be had by it, though it be peculiar grace: this is a high degree of disgrace to the Spirit of Grace; if one should say here is a man, but believes not his testimony, 'tis doubtful and very questionable what ever he saith, it is a dishonor to him, take heed of this: When the Spirit of Holiness comes to us in form, it comes thus, with little peace; but when in power, with much assurance, 1 Thess. 1. 5. It is a sad thing, if that which was the complaint of the Prophet, shall be the complaint of the Spirit, Who hath believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed!

2. Take heed of decaying in a spirit of bounty and love, and in largeness of heart to all the people of God, nay, to all men, so far as you have time and strength; let a man be never so great a Prince, if he once lose his bounty, he loseth his glory; so here Isa. 58. 8. Give bread to the hungry, then shall thy light break out of obscurity: Many complain that New-England hath so little love, Non-members not visited, not regarded (though many times unjustly) Oh they thought to see so much love, and care, and pity; but here they may live and never be spoken to, never visited; Oh take heed of this; Nothing beautifies a Christian in the eyes of others more than much love, (hypocrisie is naught) Oh excel here; visit poor families, sit one half hour and speak to discouraged hearts, shew kindness to strangers; such you were; Ile warrant God will bless you, this was the glory of Christ, full of grace and truth.

3. Be very careful in receiving in of Members into Churches, one ill p. 62man will be a spot and pollution to all the rest, Iude 12. spots in your feasts; you know how many come over, how it begins to be pleaded for, What, not baptised, and Professors? and yet how many are disfigured? therefore try them well; take heed of thinking Elders or Churches are too strict.

Fourthly be much in prayer for the Churches, Isa. 62. 7. Give the Lord no rest till he make Ierusalem the praise of the whole earth, that's the way; do you see any sins in the Country, go and stand in the gap with Moses, and though the Lord offer to do good to you, yet turn him not off so, till he promise to relieve his poor Churches also; beg and this will do it; be much in fasting; it is a shame for us (who are laying the foundations of many generations) not to be much with God in prayer and fasting; and that when in other places there is so much sowing of this seed.