The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened, Parable · Verse 13 · Question 6
Queſt. 6. Why is the Day (here) ſet before the Hour? Since in a way of Accurate and more Emphatical Speech, it might have run, Ye know not the Hour, nor yet the Day; or not ſome longer time, before that very Hour?
Anſ. 1. To Check (perhaps) that over-much Curioſity (or Exactneſs) in Diſcourſe, which may be too much the matter of ſome men's Care; the Want of which in others is oft-times Childiſhly carped at; and (in Themſelves) is ſinfully Afflicting. Too much of ſome Men's Time is ſpent in Starching, which is one Argument of their Effeminacy: and as ſuch are too much Admired; ſo others are therefore tempted to be ſilent, becauſe they are not Men of Words, Exod. 4. 10. or cannot ſpeak ſo Well as others, v. 14. But though one may ſeek after Acceptable Words, Eccl. 12. 10. Yet Paul was not for Curioſity in that reſpect, 1 Cor. 2. 1. whoſe Speech was therefore Contemptible, 2 Cor. 10. 10. nor doth the Spirit of Chriſt keep unto Grammar-Rules, in many places of Scripture, as when the Nominative Caſe is oft put Abſolute in the Greek, Rev. 2. 26. and 3. 12. 21.
2. Yet may This Order of the Words be moſt Emphatical and moſt Proper.
1. Though we take the word [Hour] here, as being Leſs (by farr) than that word [Day] or in the ſtricteſt ſence imaginable, as Mat. 8. 13. and 9. 22. and Mat. 20. 6. Luke 12. 12. and 24. 33. Joh. 4. 52. And ſo [an Hour] may import, the very great ſuddenneſs of Chriſt's Appearing, unto an Hour, as well as Day; which addeth Force unto the preſent Exhortation. His Perſonal Coming will not be Known, untill that very Moment, 1 Cor. 15. 52. nor yet this other Coming, untill the Day, no nor untill its very Hour; which ſhould provoke our being Watchfull. Had we a Day to turn us in, ſome might preſume they ſhould get Ready in a few Hours time: but when they hear, his Coming will not be Known untill that very Hour of its Beginning, thoſe muſt be ſadly Deſperate, …o do put off that weighty work, untill this Nick of time.
2. If we interpret this word [Hour] here, as it is Elſewhere plainly meant,
1. For a ſett Appointed Time. Thus did Chriſt eat the Paſſover (with his Diſciples) when the Hour was come, Luke 22. 14, 15; or when the Even was come, Mat. 26. 20. which was the ſet Appointed time, according to the Law, Deut. 16. 6. This addes an Emphaſis unto the Object of our Ignorance, and Force unto the preſent Exhortation to be Watchfull; ſince we Know not the Day, nor the Appointed time, in which the Lord will come. This Coming of Chriſt (in the latter dayes) is every way Determined or Appointed; both as to the Thing it ſelf, Zeph. 3. 8. and as to the very Time thereof, Hab. 2. 3. which is of that fore-named uſe. It is Appointed; therefore it Muſt be; yea it muſt therefore be at ſuch a Time: which ſince we Know not, we had need to VVatch, becauſe it certainly will prove according to Appointment, Exod. 9. 5, 6.
2. For ſome more ſignal Time, in point of Terrour. Thus was Chriſt's Dreadfull Paſſion call'd an Hour, which he deſired (if Poſſible) might Paſs from him, Mark 14. 35. or that he might be ſaved from it, Joh. 12. 27. This ſence of the word is of the like Import with that before, viz. That we had need to VVatch, becauſe we neither know the Day (in point of Time,) nor yet the Dreadfull Nature of it, or that Fatal Hour in which the Lord will Come. VVho would have thought, the God of Love could ever have been ſo Angry with the whole Creation, Gen. 7. 22. eſpecially conſidering the Firſt Occaſion, Gen. 6. 2. 7? VVho would have thought, that Chriſt's firſt Coming would have proved ſo Fatal to the Jews, Mal. 1. 11. No more is This Day Known; therefore in ſtead of Cenſuring the Declarers of it, let us VVatch.
3. For ſome far longer time, than either a Day or MonethMonth. Thus is the ſame Greek word (ſome…ime) tranſlated [Time or Seaſon] in the general, Joh. 16. 2. Philem. 15. and it is Elſewhere put for (certain Years,) as thoſe Ten Dayes, Rev. 2. 10. are called an Hour, Rev. 3. 10: yea, it is ſometime put to ſignifie an Age or Diſpenſation, as when John ſaith, His was the laſt Time or Hour, (as in the Greek it is) 1 Joh. 2. 18. And in this ſence, (or as the word (Hour) is put for (certain years) this Order of the words (here uſed) is both Proper and Emphatical. If men could be Aſſured, when this would be, as to ſome Tolerable ſpace of Time before-hand, they might be tempted thence to Trifle, till Towards the End thereof; but ſince we know not Certainly, the Day or Year (untill which Time it will not be) we had need VVatch.