The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened, Parable · Verse 13 · Question 8
Queſt. 8. Wherein conſiſts this work of Watching? To which I Anſwer.
Anſw. 1. Negatively; Not in that which is Competible unto Fooliſh Virgins; ſince we are therefore bid to watch, becauſe of their ſad Portion from the Lord at ſuch a time; and notwithſtanding what they had Done or Were. Now, theſe poor Fooliſh Virgins ſtood (for ought we Read) unto their former Practice, of Going forth (at firſt) to Meet the Bridegroom: Therefore one may not watch, and yet be no Back-ſlider, unto ſuch an Height; or not turn back again to that which hath been formerly Declared againſt as Antichriſtian. Nay, Theſe had ſometime been in Fellowſhip with the VViſe; who therefore (doubtleſsly) were pretty Blameleſs in their Lives, ſound in the Faith (or Main, ſo called) and very converſant about Religious Duties: Therefore one may continue Praying, Preaching, Hearing, &c. and yet not watch. Nay, Theſe are onelyonly Taxed here, for not Going out the Second time, through lack of Oyl; which (when Awakened) they would have Borrowed, and went to Buy it: Therefore one may not watch, and yet be wakened; yea, very Trim as to ones Lamp or good Affections, nay (in Appearance) willing and Deſirous to be Compleat.
2. So much as to the Negative. But then Affirmatively; this watching doth conſiſt in ſomewhat elſe, Relating to the Manner and Matter of our Duty.
1. Firſt, to the Manner of it; and ſo it doth conſiſt in being alway ſtudious or intent, with reference unto the VVork or Duty which God requireth of us. Thus are we bid to watch in Prayer, Col. 4. 2. or to Conſider what we are about, Eccl. 5. 2. which Duty of Prayer is put for All Religious worſhip whatſoever, Mat. 21. 13. and Acts 16. 13. 16. VVe ought to Rejoyce (at ſuch a Time) as if we Rejoyced not, 1 Cor. 7. 29, 30. but yet to Hear, without an Heart, fore-runs the coming of threatned Deſolation, Ezek. 33. 31. 33. Great is the want of Seriouſneſs in Spiritual Exerciſes; ſuch is the force of Innate Vanity, when in Conjunction with Diverting Objects from the Tempter. But as an Holy fixedneſs (or doing with our Might) is alway to be Laboured after, ſo much more now, or when we ſeem Haſtning into that ſtate, wherein there is no further work, Eccl. 9. 10. at leaſt for Fooliſh Virgin….
2. This Watching doth conſiſt in what Relateth to the Matter of our Duty; and as followeth.
1. In being Ready, or having All our Garments on; which is the Main thing (in the General) intended here. Chriſt's Coat was of one piece, John 19. 23. to ſignifie (perhaps) his being Dreſt at once: But we (poor Creatures) muſt be daily Adding, 2 Pet. 1. 5. Graces are called Armour, Rom. 13. 12. which doth conſiſt of ſeveral pieces, Eph. 6. 14, 15, 16, 17. the whole whereof muſt be put on by us, v. 11. whoſe Life is a continual Warfare, 1 Tim. 1. 18. One Open Guard expoſeth to a Deadly Wound, and ſhame may be Diſcovered by one Naked place; yea, more unto the ſhame of ſome, than Total Nakedneſs is to others. Now, all complain of wanting ſomewhat, and which they ſee upon the Backs of others: But yet how Lightly do Profeſſors bear Convictions of their Imperfections, without a Care and Senſe becoming their Complaints.
2. In keeping thoſe Garments cloſe about us, which Chriſt Declareth to be that wherein our Watching doth conſiſt, Rev. 16. 15. Thus let us Keep them from being Loſt, as Chriſt kept his Diſciples, John 17. 12. or that we loſe not that which we have wrought, but that we may receive a full Reward, 2 John 8. And let us alſo keep them on our Back, or by our putting them in ure; as Chriſt is ſaid to keep his Father's ſayings, John 8. 55. becauſe he did according thereunto: Since nothing will be ſaved in that Day, ſave onelyonly our wearing Cloaths, Mat. 24. 18. Yea, let us keep them without Spot, Jude 23. or, as we are to keep the Scriptures, 1 Tim. 6. 14. ſince ſuch ſhall walk in white, for they are worthy, Rev. 3. 4. Nay, we muſt keep them alſo Girt; elſe flying Garments may be to our ſhame, Rev. 16. 15.
3. In being of a conſtant Sober Spirit, which is one Branch of Watchfulneſs, and therefore is indefinitely required of us, together with our being vigilant, 1 Pet. 5. 8. Thus is a Biſhop to be Vigilant and Sober, 1 Tim. 3. 2. and Aged Men, Titus 2. 2. yea, Deacons Wives, 1 Tim. 3. 11. and every one, 1 Theſ. 5. 6. which may conſiſt with Hoping to the End, 1 Pet. 1. 13. and with Rejoycing, Phil. 4. 4, 5. but not with Levity or Exceſs, 1 Theſ. 5. 7, 8. Indeed Sobriety is but a Vertue; yet it is ſo much wanting at this Day, as that a Sober Man is counted Gracious: and Lightneſs of Spirit in Profeſſors doth Argue both their lack of Grace and Vertue. Some do ſo far Indulge their Diſpoſition, as to forget the Diſpenſation they are under, which calls for Gravity, without Diſſimulation, or for a Sober Frame, as well as ſhew.
4. In being careful of what is more peculiarly committed to our Truſt. Thus were thoſe bid to Watch, and Keep what had been weighed to them in the way from Babylon, till they ſhould be Diſcharged of it at Jeruſalem, Ezra 8. 24. 25. 26. And thus, all ſorts of Levites (or Profeſſors) have ſome things peculiarly Depoſited in their Hand, as thoſe of Old, viz. the Kohathites, Numb. 4. 4. the Gerſhonites, v. 28. and Merarites, v. 33. and in the Keeping whereof their ſpecial Watch conſiſted. Thus was the Goſpel of Uncircumciſion (by way of Eminency) committed unto Paul, Gal. 2. 7. as was his Form of ſound words to Timothy, 2 Tim. 1. 13, 14. who alſo muſt commit them unto other Faithful Men, 2 Tim. 2. 2. And thus more Eminently Inlightned ones ſhould Watch and Keep that which they are Betru…ed with, or bear the Iniquity of their Prieſt-hood, in caſe of any failure, Numb. 18. 1.
5. In our Improving preſent Opportunities for Service, while they are continued. Thus Timothy was bid to Watch, 2 Tim. 4. 5. or to be in…tant in his work of Preaching, v. 2. becauſe the Time was coming, when they would not endure ſound Doctrine, v. 3. but be turned into Fables, v. 4. Thus ought we to Obſerve (our ſelves and Others) as to the Seaſon of an Exhortation, or when the Heart is moſt Prepared for Impreſſion. The Wild Aſſe hath her MonethMonth, wherein ſhe may be found, Jer. 2. 24. and therefore Paul ſtaid ſo long at Epheſus, becauſe ſo great and ſo effectual a Door was Opened unto him, 1 Cor. 16. 8, 9. Some may Reſolve to follow Chriſt hereafter, Luke 9. 61. but by to Morrow the Heart may poſſibly be hardened, Heb. 3. 13. or that Door may be ſhut, which Now ſtands Open.
6. In lying at Catch, for any the leaſt Advantage tending to promote a Good Deſign: As Wicked Men are ſaid to watch the Righteous, Pſal. 37. 32. and as the Jews did Chriſt, that ſo they might Accuſe him, Mark 3. 2. If Men did Hunger after Righteouſneſs, Mat. 5. 6. how would they watch, as doth a Leopard for his Prey, who tarrieth not untill it cometh to his Den, but ventureth thence unto the City, Catching at him that firſt comes out, Jer. 5. 6. This Lying in wait is Lawful, and a Duty; but little practiſed by thoſe, who Turn upon the Beds, as doth the Door upon his Hinges, Prov. 26. 14. or in a Paſſive way, as if Conjured into a Narrow Circle. And if Men were as much afraid of Sin, as Suffering, they would then catch at Light for Duty, as Benhadad's Servants did at Ahab's words, for Mercy, 1 King. 20. 33.
7. In ſtanding faſt, as to the Truths of Chriſt, whatever Hardſhips may be met with in that way. Thus were thoſe bid to watch, and to ſtand faſt, 1 Cor. 16. 13. as he was bid to watch, and to endure Afflictions, 2 Tim. 4. 5. to intimate wherein this watching doth conſiſt. Back-ſliders are no Watchers; however ſuch may Talk (as ſome do) in their ſleep: Nor they who are ſo very Tender, (or ſenſible of Cold) to what they ſometimes were. It is a Night with us at preſent; and greateſt chilneſs (or Afflicting Cold) is wont to be at Break of Day: Therefore let us in this ſence watch; And let us ſtand faſt, not Reeling to and fro, which is the poſture of Men half aſleep: And let us hold faſt that which we have, ſince aptneſs to let things fall, is that by which a ſlumberer is to be known from others.
8. In being careful to Preſerve the Life of what is Dying; and more eſpecially in all Momentous Caſes. When any one is very Weak, the Friends of ſuch are wont to Watch; in which regard, the Sardians are bid to watch, and ſtrengthen the things which did remain, being Ready to Die, Rev. 3. 2. as other things were Dead before, v. 1. This is the Caſe of Many in our Days; who ſeem to have been Typified by thoſe of Old. Some are quite Dead, as to their Zeal, their Confidence, their ſeeming Life and Power: And other things (which yet Remain) are Ready to die, viz. their Hope, their Form of Godlineſs, and Moral Honeſty; who therefore had need to Watch. Yea, there is not an Heart (or Houſe) wherein ſome Good thing is not very weak; which therefore calls for ſtrengthning: and therein lieth our being Watchful.
9. In minding what God doth ſay; as Habakkuk Reſolved to watch and ſee what God would ſay unto him, Hab. 2. 1. and with Reſpect to ſuch a time, or when the Enemy doth Poſſeſs what was not Theirs, Hab. 1. 6. Indeed, we cannot well Hear, unleſs we Watch, 1 Kings 18. 27. at leaſt, not ſome more ſtill (or whiſpering) voice, in which the Lord is Moſtly preſent, 1 Kings 19. 12, 13. Thus are we to Hear what Chriſt hath ſaid unto the Churches, Relating to theſe Latter days, Rev. 3. 22. how ſome of them were Threatned (at the firſt) if they did not Repent, Rev. 2. 5. 7. how others were Diſcovered (afterwards) to be meer Formaliſts, Rev. 3. 1. 6. and how (at Laſt) Chriſt is Reſolved to ſpew them out, for their luke-warmneſs, Rev. 3. 16. 22. Thus are we to Hear his Crying Voice unto the City, Mic. 6. 9. and what he will ſpeak at the laſt, Pſal. 85. 8.
10. In being able to tell the Time, or What of the Night; which is the peculiar work of Watch-men, Iſa. 21. 11. and wherein Paul preſumed thoſe Believers were Acquainted, Rom. 13. 11. 13. And if Philoſophers ſhould not wonder, (as one of them vainly Boaſted,) much leſs ſhould Chriſtians be at a Total Loſs, in this regard; ſince Providence compared with the Scripture, is like a Dial ſhone upon, in caſe our Eyes were Open, Luke 24. 25. 27. But few have Knowledge of the Times, 1 Chron. 12. 32. though to their ſhame who do pretend to that All-guiding Spirit of Chriſt, John 16. 13. ſince (by a Natural Inſtinct) the Stork in Heaven knoweth her Appointed time, Jer. 8. 7. But let us watch, in this regard; ſince Ignorance (in that Reſpect) is very Dangerous, Luke 19. 42. and a ſad Judgment, Iſa. 29. 10. if not wilful, 2 Pet. 3. 5.
11. In our Defending others; at leaſt-wiſe by fore-warning them of what is Notified unto us; and more eſpecially, thoſe whom the Lord hath (by his Providence) Committed to our Care: Thus hath a City its Appointed Watch-men, Cant. 3. 3. and more eſpecially in times of Danger, who then are to Declare that which they ſee, Iſa. 21. 6. though ſuch cannot be alway Poſitive, 2 Sam. 18. 27. 2 Kings 9. 17, 20. Some, under a pretence of looking to Themſelves, care not what doth become of others: As if the Command of Saving our ſelves and others, 1 Tim. 4. 16. were not Divine and ſelf-conſiſtent. Others are ſo afraid of being ſhamed with a falſe Alarm, as that they have not Heart to ſpeak at all, Jonah 4. 2. which yet is Ordinary in a VVatch-man. Others put off this work to ſome Peculiar ones: as if a Cain were not his Brother's Keeper, Gen. 4. 9. or a Samaritan were not a Neighbour, Luke 10. 36.
12. In being (our ſelves) aware of Dangers, and ſuitably provided for them, before we are ſurprized with them. Thus are thoſe bid to watch they way, Nah. 2. 1. and thoſe Diſciples to VVatch and Pray, for fear of entring into Temptation, Mat. 26. 41. So thoſe Epheſian Elders were bid to VVatch, Acts 20. 21. with reference unto Wolves without, v. 29. and Perverſe Speakers from Themſelves, v. 30. Thoſe are no VVatchers who are Offended with too Early Items; who are afraid of being up too ſoon, who have their Oyl to Buy, when ſo much of the preſent Night is ſpent. Without Diſpute this is here plainly meant, as is Apparent, both from the following and fore-going words: Thus therefore let us watch; and with Reſpect to Spiritual and Eternal Dangers, more than Temporal.
13. In being Eminently careful, as to the Duties and Temptations which Relate to ſuch a Time; in which regard the Porter is bid to watch, Mark 13. 34. and all the Diſciples, for fear of entring into Temptation, Mark 14. 38. This leadeth us to that which followeth.