Commentary on the Gospels and Acts, Commentary 1 · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV.
Verse 1. Then shall the kingdom of heaven]
OUr Saviour here continueth his former discourse, and sets it on by a second parable to the same …: not so much for the difficulty of the matter, … for our … and backwardnesse to beleeve and improve it. Moses would have men whet good Deut. …. 7.things upon their childrens mindes and memories, by going often… si ut in …. over them, as the knife doth over the whetstone. Solomon saith good counsell should be fastened as … driven home to… & …. the head, Eccles. 12. 11. Paul holds it profitable to write the same things, though not in the same words, to his Philipians, foreign.chap. 4. 1. Peter slacks not to rouse up those to whom he writes, by remembring them of those points, wherein they were readyAug de …. …. and well-rooted, 2 Epist. 1. 12, 13. And Austin adviseth preachers so long to presse the same truths, till they read in their hearers very visage that they resent and relish them.
Unto ten virgins]
Virgins without number, Cant. 6. 8. Professours at large, good and bad, one with another.
Which took their lamps]
The solemnities of Marriage were anciently, performed and celebrated by night, Luk. 12. 35. …. Problem. and the bridegrom brought to his lodging by the virgins, bearing burning lamps before him.
Verse 2. Five were foolish]
That is, some were wise, and someforeign quasi foreign. others foolish, and these last usually the most, imprudent, improvident, afterwitted, oculos habentes in occipitio, that foresee not a following mischief, but come in with their fools, Had I wist, with their Si praescivissem as the Lion in the fable. The Spaniards say of the Portugals that they are pocos y focos, Few and foolish. But of foolish virgins, that is of … professours, that have no more then an outside, there are not a few, but more then a good many in all places, Cant. 6. 8, 9.
Verse 3. Took their lamps, and took no oyle]
Empty casks, … figtrees, pretenders only to the power of godlinesse: of whom it may be said, as Livy saith of the Athenians, that they waged warre against Philip the father of Persius King of Macedonia … 4.(so these against the devill the world and the flesh,) literis verbis que , quibus solis valent. These carry Uriah's letters about them destructory to themselves. For if Religion be not good, why do they professe it? If it be, why do they not practise it? To such it may fitly be said, as Archidamus to his son, rashly conflicting with the enemy without sufficient strength, Aut viribus adde, aut animis adime, so either adde practise, or leave profession: And as Alexander, having a souldier of his own name, and this souldier being a coward, he came to him and said, either leave off the name of Alexander, or be valiant: so let these Nominals, either lay by their lamps or take oile with them.
Verse 4. But the wise took … ]
That is, true faith in their …, which as oile, is spredding, softning, suppling, soaking. Christ putteth not upon his a washy colour of profession (a blockwood blew) but he dyeth them in grain, with true grace and holinesse.
Verse 5. While the bridegrom tarried]
Tarry he doth. 1. To exercise our patience. 2. To eneager our desires. 3. That his elect may be all gathered. 4. That the mystery of iniquity may be fullfilled. 5. That the prophecies may be accomplished, &c.
They all slumbred]
The wise ones also slept, but their heartsCant. 5. 2. waked, they slept but half-sleep, they napped and nodded, they … with open eyes, as the lion doth, the spirit was willing to wake, but the flesh was weak, and over-wayed it: They slumbredforeign. but it was by candle-light, they had their lamps burning by them, which the foolish had not.
Verse 6. There was a cry made]
By the trumpet of the Archangell,… Archangeli …. Arct. in loc. and the voice of God, say some Interpreters: and Hierom reports it for an Apostalicall tradition, that Christ shall come at midnight. But of that houre no man knoweth, saith the Judge himself. Others there are that expound this cry, of the Preaching of the Gospel, according to that voice of the cryer, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, &c. Matth. 3. And here—clames ut Stentora vincas, Cry aloud, spare not, &c.
Verse 7. And trimmed their lamps]
The … also made a fair flourish, and held themselves, haply, in case good enough for heaven; deceiving their own hearts, or rather deceived by them, whiles they use fallacious and specious …, Jam. 1. 26. to make themselves beleeve their peny to be good silver, when asit is nothing better then a slip.
Verse 8. Our lamps are gon out]
They were not lighted lamps, … sparks of their own …; phantasticall fire, an ignis fatuus, a painted flame, which neither heats nor lights. The glowworm seems to have both heat and light, but touch it, and it hath neither. Alchymy gold may seem brighter and … then true gold, but it can neither passe the seventh fire, nor comfort the heart as a cordiall. so here. A man may live by a form, but he cannot dye by it. They that kindle a fire, but not of Gods sanctuary, and compasse themselves about with specious …, … may walk here for a while in the light of their …, and in the sparks that they have kindled. But when … done, this is all they shall have of Gods hand, they shall lye … in sorrow, Isa. 50. 11.
Verse 9. Lest there be not enough, &c.]
The best have nought to spare, what ever Papists fancy of the Church-treasury. The righteous is scarcely saved; at death he findes all he could do little enough: though he began betime, and … himself to hisforeign utmost, hard and … gets he to heaven, though he hath instantly served God day and night (Act. 26. 7.) with a kinde of … and vehemency.
But go ye rather to them that sell]
Salsa est derisio non cohortatio, like that, Isa. 47. 13. As if God should say to Papists, Go to your Indulgencers, pardon-mongers, Aneylers: or to carnall Gospellers, Go to your parasiticall-preachers, that have soothed you up in your sinnes (and ye loved to have it so) or at the best, have shot off a few potguns only against grosse sinnes, and licked you whole again presently with, I hope better things of you, &c.
Verse 10. And they that were ready, went in, &c.]
The bridegroom waits no mans leisure: Love is … of delaies, leaps…. 1. 17. over all impediments, those mountains of Bether or division, that it may have not a union only, but a unity with the beloved.
And the door was shut]
Opportunity is headlong, and once lost, irrecoverable. It behooves us therefore to be abrupt in the work of repentance, Dan. 4. 27. as a work of greatest haste: lest we cry out, as he once, All too late, all too late: or as a great Lady of this land did lately upon her death-bed, Time, time, a world of wealth for an inch of time. We want not time so much, as waste it. Remember that upon this moment depends eternity. God hath hang'd the heaviest weights upon the weakest wiers.
Verse 11. Afterward came also the other Virgins]
The greater number by ods, that stand trifling and bafling with Christ, and their souls, futuring their repentance, Epimetheus Postmasters, semper victuri in Seneca's sense. Ioho saphat in temporalls, was … wise too late, 2 Chron. 18 31. & 20. 36, 37. and paid for his after-wit: howbeit in spiritualls he was a wise virgin, made sure work for his soul, which was an high point of heavenly prudence.
Verse 12. Verily I say unto you, I know you not]
i.e. With a knowledge of approbation or delight. Verbanotitiae, apud Hebraeos secum trahunt affectum. See more above in the Note upon, chap. 7. v. 23.
Verse 13. Watch therefore]
Left ye smart for it, when God … send out summons for sleepers. This is an exhortation answerable to that chap. 24. 42. and the upshot of that, this, and the … parable. See the Notes there.
Verse 14. And delivered unto them his goods]
There is scarce any man but hath some one thing or other in him, that is excellent and extraordinary: some speciall talent to trade with, some hony to bring to the common hive, have he but an heart to it. Suacui que dos est. Let every man according to his severall ability, improve what he hath to the common benefit. Freely he hath received, freely let him give: ability he hath none but from God; who yet, for our encouragement, is pleased to call that ours, that is his own work in us.
Verse 15. According to his severall ability]
Usurers use not to lend to those that cannot give pledge or security. Howbeit we have nothing of our own, but according to the measure of our gifts and faith, Ephes. 4. the measure of the rule distributed to …, 2 Cor. 10. 13. the measure of grace concredited, Rom. 12.
Verse 16. Went and traded]
Grace grows by exercise, and decaies by disuse: as that side of the teeth which is least used in chewing, is apt to have more rheum to settle upon it. Though both arms grow, yet that which a man useth, is the stronger and bigger: so is it in both gifts and graces. In birds their wings, which have been used most, are sweetest. Among trees, that which is planted and plashed against a wall, the more it is spread and laid forth in the branches, even to the least twigge, the more warmth and vigour it gets from the Sun-beams, and the more … it beareth. So here.
Verse 17. He also gained other two]
The Lord, as he hath a fatherly … to our weaknesse, so as not to overlay us, so he takes well a worth what we are able, and exacts no moreHonestum est ei qui in primis nequit, in secundis tertijsve consistere. Cic. then he gives. Despise not therefore the day of small things, sith God doth not, Zech. 4. 10. Neither cast away your confidence, because not good to such a degree: but be faithfull in weaknesse, though weak in faith. A palsey-hand may receive an alms: he that had but half an eye might look upon the brasen serpent, and be healed.
Verse 18. Digged it in the earth]
Through sloth and pride: as many now-adaies, will do no more service to God then may breed admiration amongst men. Some preachers (saith one) to win applause, set forth at first with such a strife to seem eloquent and learned, that they quickly spend their store: and then, ratherBifield on Col. 4. fol. 200. then they would be observed to want, they will give over preaching, or else preach once a quarter, to air their learning, and keep it from moulding.
Verse 19. And reckoneth with them]
This is that we must also come to. Christ will one day say, Redde rationem, … an account of thy Stewardship. Cicero could say, Let us so frame our2 Cor. 5. 10. course, as that we reckon upon our last reckoning, & make accountIta vivamus ut rationem nobis reddendam arbitre…ur. Cic. in Verr. we must all come to an account. And, because often-reckonings keep long-friends, Villicus rationem cum Domino crebrò putet, saith Cato, Let us be oft dealing with our selves, and setting things to rights, betwixt God and our own souls: so shall we have the lesse to do at last cast. Sparing a little pains at first, doubleth it in the end: as he who will not cast up his books, his books will cast up him at length.
Verse 20. He that had received five]
He was first called …o an account, and if four, or but one of his five talents had …in dead and unoccupied, he had been doomed for his ill-husbandry. See that ye receive not any grace of God in vain: neither envy those that have much: a proportion is expected, Non tantùm otiosi, sed cunctatores plectentur. Thou idle, and therefore evil servant, vers. 26.
Verse 21. Thou hast been faithfull over a few things]
So the Lord calleth the greatest measure of grace here attainable, in comparison of heavens holinesse and happinesse, Ne donis vel bonis nostris effer amur. What's a spark to the Sunne, a drop to the Ocean?
Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord]
A joy too big to enter into us, we must enter into it. A joy more meet for the Lord then the servant. Yet such a Lord do we serve, as will honour his servants with such a joy. Amongst men it is otherwise, Luk 17. 7. Gen. 15. 2, 3. 1 King. 11. 28, 40.
Verse 22. Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents]
It is with Christians as with planets. The Moon goes her course in a monethmonth, the Sun in a year, the rest not but in many years, yet at length they finish. Let us be doing as we can, and our reward is sure with God. Covet rather graces then gifts; as to pray more fervently, though lesse notionally or elequently. Stammering Moses must pray, rather then well-spoken Aaron. The Corinthians came behinde in no gift, 1 Cor. 1. 7. yet were babes and carnall, Chap. 3. 2, 3.
Verse 23. Well done good and faithfull servant]
Though this second had the same good acceptance as the former, yet it follows not that they were both alike rewarded; but had a different degree, as of grace, so of glory.
Verse 24. Lord I know that thou wert, &c.]
Invalidum omn… Seneca.naturâ querulum. A sorry senslesse excuse it is that this man makes for himself: and such as is both false and frivolous. It shews … utter emptinesse of the oil of Gods grace, when mens lips, like doors on rusty hinges, move not without murmuring and malecontentednesse.
Verse 25. I was afraid and went and hid, &c.]
So God must bear the blame of his unfaithfulnesse. The foolishnesse of man perverteth Prov. 19 3.his way, and (then to mend the matter) his heart fre…ter… against the Lord, or at least he digests his choler, as horses do, by champing on the bridle-bit.
Verse 26. Thou wicked and slothfull servant]
God puts no difference between betwixt Nequaquum & nequum, an idle and an evil servant. Had idlenesse been a calling, this servant had been both a good husband, and a good fellow too. But what saith the Heathen?Salust, in Iug. Nae illi falsi sunt, qui diversissimas res expectant, ignaviae voluptatem, & praemia virtutis,
Verse 27. Received the same with usury]
Our Saviour doth no more patronize Usury here, then he doth injustice, Luk. 16. 1. The…, 1 Thess. 5. 2. Dancing, Matth. 11. 17. Olympick games, 1 Cor. 9. 24.
Verse 28. Take therefore the talent from him]
God will takeHos…. 9. his own, and be gone from an unworthy people or person. The Idol-shepherds arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye utterly darkned, Zech. 11. 17. It is no hard matter to observe a wain and decay of Gods gifts in them that use them not; till at last, Zedekiah like, they may say, When did the Spirit depart from 1 King. 22. 24.me? And, as many of Ishbosheths friends shrank together with Abner, so do mens abilities fail amain, when once they begin to fail, till at last God laies them aside, as so many broken vessels, and cause them to be forgotten, as dead men out of minde, Psal. 31. 21.
Verse 29. But from him that hath not, shall be, &c.]
See the Notes on Chap. 13. 12. Where the like is spoken, but with this difference. There our Saviour speaketh of proud men, such as arrogate to themselves that they have not: Here of idle and evil persons, such as improve and imploy not that they have: the rust of whose worth shall rise up against them, Jam. 5. 3.
Verse 30. And cast ye the unprofitable servant]
That had his soul for salt only, to keep his body from putrifying, that worthlesse,foreign, uselesse. saplesse, uselesse man, that is no more missed, when gone, then the parings of ones nails, that never did good among his people,foreign. …. Ezek. 18. 18. but lived wickedly, and therefore died wishedly. A way with such a fellow, saith Christ, from off the earth, which he hath burdened, &c.
Verse 31. And all the holy Angels with him]
He shall not leave one behinde him in heaven. …, what a brave bright day must that needs be, when so many glorious Sunnes shall shine in the firmament, and among, and above them all the Sun of righteousnesse, in whom our nature is advanced above the brightest Cherub?
Upon the throne of his glory]
Perhaps upon his Angels, who are called Thrones, Col. 1. 16. and possibly may bear him aloft by their naturall strength, as on their shoulders.
Verse 32. And before him shall be gathered all]
Then shall Adam see all his Nephews at once: none shall be excused for absence at this generall Assizes, none shall appear by a proxy, all shall be compelled to come in and hear their sentence; which may be, as some conceive, a long while a doing. It may be made evident (saith one) from Scripture and reason, That this day of Christs kingly office in judging all men, shall last haply longer then his private administration now (wherein he is lesse glorious) in governingM. …, Sincere convert, … 87. the world. Things shall not be suddenly shuffled up at last day as some imagine.
And he shall separate them]
Before he hears their causes: which is an argument of singular skill in the Judge: it being the course of other Judges to proceed, Secundum allegata & probata. But he shall set mens sins in order before their eyes, Psal. 50 21. with … of the particulars.
Verse 33. The sheep on the right hand, &c.]
A place of dignity and safety. Our Saviour seems here to allude to that of Moses his dividing the Tribes on Gerizzim and Ebal. Those six Tribes that came of the free-women are set to blesse the people: as the other five, that came of the bond-women (whereunto is adjoyned Reuben for his incest) are set to say Amen to the curses, Deut. 27. 11, 12, 13.
Verse 34. Come ye blessed of my Father,]
Pateruè alloquitur. As who should say, Where have ye been, my darlings, all this while of my long absence? Come, Come now into my bosom, which is now wide open to receive you, as the welcomest guesse that ever accoasted me, &c. And surely, if Jacobs and Josephs meeting were so unspeakably comfortable: If Mary and Elizabeth did so greet and congratulate, O what shall be the joy of that … day!
Inherit the Kingdom prepared]
Here (as in the Turks Court) every man is aut Caesar aut nullus, as he said, either a King or aTurk hist. …; as the Sultans children, if they raign not, they die without mercy, either by the sword or halter.
From the foundation of the world]
Their heads were destinated long since to the diadem, as Tertullian hath it. K. James was crowned in his cradle. Sapores King of Persia, before he was born (for his father dying, the Nobles set the crown on his mothers belly) but the Saints were crowned, in Gods eternall counsell, before the world was founded.
Verse 35. For I was an hungred]
For in this place, denoteth not the cause, but the evidence. It is all one as if I should say, This man liveth, for behold he moveth. Where it will easily be yeelded, That motion is not the cause of life, but the evidence and effect of it. So here. Merit is a meer fiction, sith … can be no proportion betwixt the worke and the ….
Verse 36. Naked, and … clothed me]
Darius, before he came to the Kingdom, received a garment for a gift of one Syloson. And, when he became King, he rewarded him with the command of his countrey Samus. Who now will say that Syloson meritedAElian. such a boon for so small a curtesie? A Gardiner, offering a rape-root (being the best present the poor man had) to the Duke of … was bountifully rewarded by the Duke: Which his Steward observing thought to make use of his bounty, presenting him with a very fair horse. The Duke (ut perspicaci erat ingenio, saith mine authour) being a very wise man, perceived the project, received the horse, and gave him nothing for it. Right so will God deal with our merit-mongers, that by building monasteries, &c. think to purchase heaven.
I was in prison, and ye came to me]
Many Papists have hence concluded, that there are only six works of mercy, Visito, poto, cibo, &c. whereas indeed there are many more. But it is remarkable out of this text, that the last definitive sentence shall passe upon men, according to their forwardnesse and freenesse in shewing mercy to the family of faith. And that the sentence of absoution shall contain a manifestation of all their good works, and that with such fervency of affection in Christ, that he will see and remember nothing in them, but the good they have done. See my Common-place of Alms.
Verse 37, 38, 39. Then shall the righteous, &c.]
Not that there shall be then any such dialogisme, (say Divines) at the last day: but Christ would hereby give us to understand, That the Saints rising again and returning to themselves, can never sufficiently set forth such a bounty in Christ, whereby he taketh all they do to their poor necessitous brethren, in as good part, as done to his sacred self.
Verse 40. One of the least of these my … ]
What a comfort is this, that our own brother shall judge us, who is much more compassionate then any Joseph? What an honour that Christ calls us his brethren? What an obligation is such a dignity to all possible duty? that we stain not our kindred. … being invited to a place, where a notable harlot was to be present, asked counsell of …, what he should do; He bad him only remember, that he was a Kings sonne. Remember we that we that we are Christ the Kings brethren, and it may prove a singular preservative. Vellem si non essem Imperator, said …, when an harlot was … unto him, I would, if I were hotforeign. Generall. Take thou the pillage of the field, said Themistocles: to his friend: for thou art not Themistocles.
Ye have done it unto me]
Christ, saith Salvian, is, … maximus, as one that shareth in all the Saints necessities; and who would but relieve … Christ? Look out some …, in whom we may seal up love to deceased …. My goodnesse extendeth not to thee, saith David, but to the Saints, Psal. 16. 2. ….Christs receivers. M. Fox never denied beggar that asked in Iesus M. Wards ….name. And being once asked, Whether he knew a certain poor man who had received … from him in time of trouble, he answered, I remember him well: I tell you, I forget Lords and LadiesDavids desire by Rob. Abbots. to remember such.
Verse 41. Then shall he say also, &c.]
Then: Judgement as it begins here at Gods …, so shall it at the last day. The elect shall be crowned, and then the reprobates doomed and damned.
Depart from … ye cursed, &c.]
A sentence that breaths out nothing but fire and brimstone, stings and horrours, woe and alas, … without end, and past imagination. Mercy, Lord, saith the … miser. No, saith Christ, …, be packing.
Yet blesse me before I go.Ob.
Depart ye cursed.Sol.
To some good place then.Ob.
To hell-fire, not materiall fire, but worse in many respects.Sol.
But let me then come out again.Ob.
It is everlasting fire, eternity of extremity. This is the hell ofSol. hell: this puts the damned to their foreign, as much as if they should say, foreign, Not ever, Lord, torment us thus. But they have a will to sin ever; and, being worthlesse, they cannot satisfie Gods justice in any time: therefore is their … everlasting.
But let me have some good company in my ….Ob.
The devil and his Angels.Sol.
But who appointed me this hard condition?Ob.
It was prepared of old. The all-powerfull wisdom did, as itSol. …, set down and devise most … that most formidable fire. And here it is hard to say, whether …, Depart from me ye cursed, or that which followeth, Into … fire; Pain of losse, or pain of sense. Sure it is, that the … of hell are not sufficient to be wail the losse of heaven; the … of grief gna … painfull, as the … burns. If those good souls, Act. 20. wept because they should see … … no more, how deplorable is the eternall deprivation of the beatificall vision?
Verse 42. For I was an hungred, &c.]
Ill works are the just causes of damnation, as being perfectly evil. But good works can be no such causes of salvation, because due debts to God, and, at the …, imperfect.
Verse 43. I was a stranger, &c.]
These fools of the peopleProv. 17. 16. … a price in their hands to get … (as Joseph by his … bought the Land of AEgypt) but they had no … it. … son to Henry the third of England, was elected King of … being … therein before … … of … …. The Spaniard pretended and … have been first elected. But, being it seems a …, … Daniels Hist. of Engl. 174.drawing lines, when he should have … his …, and so came prevented of his hopes. And is not this many … fault and folly?
Verse 44. Lord, When saw …, &c.]
They were …,foreign. and could not see Christ in poor Christians, whom they2 Pet. 1. 9. should have looked upon, as the only earthly Angels, the dearly beloved of Christs soul, Jer. 12. 7. The house of his glory, Isa. 60. 7. An ornament of God, Ezek. 7. 20. A royall diadem in the hand of Jehovah, Isa. 62. 3.
Verse 45. Inasmuch as ye did it not to one, &c.]
Omissions then are damnable …. Ammonites and Moabites were bastardizedDeut. 23 3, 4. and banished the beauty of holinesse, the Tabernacle of God, to the tenth generation, because they met not Gods Israel with bread and water in the wildernesse. Not to do justice is injustice: not to shew mercy is cruelty. Where then will oppressours appear, that grinde the faces of the poor, that quaff their tears, and make musick of their shreeks? Go to now ye rich men, weep and howl, &c. Iam. 5. 1, 2, 3. If not relieving of the poor damns men, What shall robbing do, but double damn?
Verse 46. And these shall go away, &c.]
The sentence began with the godly, the execution with the wicked: … that the godly may see their desire upon their enemies, Psal. 58. 10. and 79. 10. And also, that in the others misery, they may behold, by the difference, their own felicity: and thereby be moved to lift up many an humble, joyfull and thankfull … to God.