Several Works, Work 2 · Part 3
Verſe 6.
foreign.
IN this Verſe we have Chriſt his preparatory to his coming. In the next verſe, Its influence upon thoſe unprepared virgins, towards a preparation of themſelves for his coming, and their own meeting of him.
In this preparation you have 1. A cry; which is laid down, firſt in general, or firſt it is declared foreign that there was a cry. 2. … what this cry was; Behold the Bridegroom cometh, &c. And then the ſeaſon of it in the ſecond place, it was at midnight. A Cry was made at his firſt coming, there was a forerunner, and that was John the Baptiſt, and he was the voice of one crying in the wilderneſs, an earneſt, Mat. 3. 3.zealous, loud ſpeaking, prepare ye the way of the Lord. And now at his laſt coming there is a like preparation of his way, there was a Cry made. Calvin thinketh the Cry here is put metaphorically for the ſuddeneſs of his coming, or that it may be underſtood ſo, becauſe when any great thing cometh upon a people ſuddenly, they make a ſtir, a tumult, it diſcompoſeth them. Or as Children, or Scholars, that are all out of their places, and at their ſport, their Father or Maſter cometh upon them ſuddenly; O what a ſtir there is, an out-cry, the Maſter is coming, the Father is coming! Or when an Enemy ſurprizeth a place, cometh ſuddenly, beateth up their Quarters, there is a Cry; O horſe, horſe, arm, arm, they are here upon us. But I know not what Reaſon thus to underſtand it of the ſuddenneſs of his coming, the Effect being put for the Cauſe; becauſe before the ſuddenneſs of his coming is ſet forth in the ſeaſon plainly, as hereafter ſhall appear; he came at midnight. I rather therefore take this for a Cry by ſome meſſenger of God, as a fore-runner of his Sons appearing, or coming to his people, either to take them to the marriage, or ſhut them out of the marriage for ever.
The Doctrine briefly will be this; The fore-runner of the coming Doctr.of Chriſt, is a Cry. At midnight a Cry was made. It is likely that this is ſpoken by way of accommadation to the Protheſis of the ſimilitude, as the manner of Marriages then, when the Bridegroom was coming, likely there was ſome meſſenger going before, to prepare them that were with the Bride, to meet him that there might be no confuſion when he came, ſo here in the foreign of the ſimilitude, the profeſſors of Chriſt and the world, they are unready for the moſt part, and in a ſleep: And therefore this fore-runner goeth before the coming of the Bride-groom, to give them warning that they prepare, &c.
That this is ſo, the Text it ſelf is ſo expreſs, I think it not very needful to prove it further by Scripture, but ſhew you that it is his courſe in all his comings to ſend ſome meſſenger before him to prepare his way, to make way for his coming; his coming to particular Judgments, as with the old world, he ſent his harbinger Noah, a Preacher of righteouſneſs, and every blow of the workmen upon the Ark was a Cry, and might have been as a 2 Pet. 2. 5. Heb. 11. 7.dreadful ſound in the ears of the world, he being the warning; the Ark muſt be ſo long, an hundred and twenty years in building, the report of it then might go over all the world in that time, for ought I know. Was not Lot ſent to Sodom before their ruin, Jonah to Niniveh, crying yet fourty days, and it ſhall be overthrown; But I will not ſtand upon this, you ſee it is ſuitable to his former proceedings in coming to judge any people, or deliver his own among them, and deſtroy the reſt, which will be the effect of this coming of his.
Only here, let us note ſomething concerning this coming of Chriſt, in a word or two; for I will not dwell upon theſe things, having diſpatched the main things in the Parable already for the moſt part, and 2. Something touching this Cry, what it is, and 3. Something concerning them both, relatively conſidered, one reſpecting the other.
1. For the coming of Chriſt, which is the ſubſtance of the Cry, as you heard before, either it is his coming at laſt to judge the world, to gather the Saints together, and carry them into the Marriage as one ſpouſe, topreſent them to his father, the purchaſe of his deareſt blood which we muſt ſurely underſtand here to be principally meant. And 2. The coming of Chriſt to a particular ſoul, or people to gather them either to the ſpirits of juſt men made perfect, the aſſembly of the firſt-born, the general aſſembly, or elſe to ſeparate them from the congregation of the righteous; here indeed Heb. 12. 23. Pſal. 1. 5.they live mixed, as in the firſt Pſalm, but then the ſinners ſhall not ſtand in the congregation of the righteous; but then the wheat goeth one way, and the Chaff another, the Gorn one way, the Tares another, the good fiſh in the Net one way, and the weeds, and traſh drawn in the Net another way. Before the fooliſh Virgins might be counted wiſe, it may by many as well as the wiſe, yea happily the only wiſe, and the wiſe Virgins the fooliſh; but now he cometh to make a difference, and lay it open to the view of all, which are which.
2. For the Cry: It is to be noted, that the force of the word imports a ſtrong voice, ſuch a voice happily as would Stentora vincere, there is a ſtill voice, and a loud voice; a Cry is, when the voice is lifted up, when the throat is extended, as I may ſay, when perſons are hard of hearing, Iſa. 58. 1. Cry with the throat; Or it is to be extended to a great diſtance, there is a Cry Iſa. 58. 1.made. So then, this is no ordinary voice or warning, but a loud Cry, a ſhrill ſound, that is to be the fore-runner of Chriſt his coming.
But then, What this Cry is, that is here ſpoken of, will be the ſubject of a further enquiry? Why? ſurely brethren, we muſt underſtand it according, or ſuitable to our expoſition of the coming in this place.
If we take his coming here, to be his general coming to judge the world, then the Cry may be one of theſe two, and both of them are fore-runners, though the one is more immediate then the other.
1. Then, The preaching of the Goſpel to all the world, their ſound is gone forth into all the world. The Goſpel of the Kingdom Mat. 24. 14.muſt firſt be preached to all the World, and then ſhall the end be; it muſt be for a witneſs to all Nations; this is a ſound,, a Cry, and the ſubſtance of the Cry is, behold he cometh, go forth to meet him; he that is the Bridegroom, that hath purchaſed with his precious blood a peculiar people to himſelf to be his ſpouſe, even as many as ſhall believe in his name. Therefore go forth to meet him, make ready for his appearing, when he ſhall come to fetch his Bride, ſee to it that you be found in the number, this Cry is to go forth into all the world, But this is further off. But,
2. The voice of the Archangel; for the Lord himſelf ſhall deſeend from heaven with a ſhout, with a ſhout, with the voice of the 1 Theſ. 4. 16.Archangel, and with the Trump of God, and the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt; foreign a ſhout, Beza ſaith it is taken from Seamen, or the like, who when they are pulling an Anchor, or Cable, with one voice cry together, and pull together, as I may ſay a Hertamen, ſtirring up one another to pull; ſo this will be a ſhout happily of all, or many of the company which come with Jeſus Chriſt, crying out, O he is coming, make ready for him; or what ever it be, ſome ſhout there will be, or like the ſhout of men ready to ſet upon, and deſtroy their enemies. The Archangel is chief, there being orders it ſhould ſeem among them, he doth as I may ſay, cry before the reſt, and inſtead of the reſt, and Calvin maketh this expoſition. The Trumpet alſo whatever it be ſounds, to ſound forth the majeſty of the appearing of Jeſus Chriſt; i… is the loudeſt ſound that is made with inſtruments, I think, and uſed much in Iſrael in the gathering together their holy, and civil, and martial-Aſſemblies, and for preparation to warn. Well, this will be a Cry that all the world will ring of, the very dead in their graves ſhall hear it, they that are in the grave, &c. Ioh. 5. 28.Not while they are dead, nor be quickned by any vertue of a Creature, as this Cry is, but the power of Chriſt then going forth, and raiſing them up, they may be ſaid to hear it, or at leaſt they are raiſed at that time; The trumpet Calvin mentioneth 2 Cor. 15. 52. Calv. H…ll.unto the Corinthians, to be nothing elſe but metaphorical, the voice of the Angel, the loud Cry, which ſhall be by the Angel formed; As a General by Trumpet cals together his Army, ſo God will cite all the world to his Tribunal; or as at Mount Sinai, to the giving the Law, one people were called together with a Exod. 19. 16.loud noiſe, or trumpets, ſo much more when all the world ſhall be called together, the Majeſty and terror of the appearing of Chriſt.
If we take it here brethren, of his particular coming to particular ſouls, to gather them to himſelf in part before that day; which I know not that it can be excluded from being a part of his meaning, then the voice, the cry, is otherwiſe to be underſtood.
1. Then, It may be meant of the warning words which the Lord giveth his people by the Miniſtry of the Goſpel every where in his Churches: ſpecially indeed brethren, this hath been the voyce of all the Meſſengers of Chriſt ever ſince his firſt coming, that he will come, and come quickly, his laſt and general coming will be quickly, but his coming to us particularly will be—quickly. Now the importunity of them that call upon us to repent, to prepare for the coming of Chriſt to our ſouls by death, when we are like to receive our doom for our everlaſting ſtate, this may be meant, cry aloud, ſpare not, lift up thy voyce. Or elſe,Iſa. 58. 1.
2. Happily ſome Afflictions, God opens the mouth of ſome rod, ſome heavy viſitation, the rod cryeth, as it is in that place of Micah, Mic. 6. 9.whether it be the affliction, the ſickneſs, or ſtroke whereby the Lord takes men away, this cryeth to men, repent: O prepare to meet the Lord Jeſus, he is coming, he is now even at the door; therefore go forth now to meet him, as Hilarian chid his ſoul out, egredere O anima, egredere. Sometimes the Lord ſendeth a long and a loud cry, a grievous, and heavy viſitation upon many of us, yea upon his own dear children, as I have known ſome, the Cry hath been, he is coming, go forth to meet him, make ready; Or if it be a ſtroke that he removeth again, before we go hence, and we recover ſtrength again: yet the Cry of it is, Behold he cometh, go forth to meet him, for we know not whether death be not in the cup of affliction we drink at any time.
Thirdly, Then for the relative conſideration of the Cry, with reſpect to his coming, whereof it is a warning: It is to be conſidered, whether it be ſo immediate, yea or no, as there can be no time of preparation after it, which ſeemeth not to ſuit with the parable here. It ſeemeth by the parable, if I may inſiſt ſo much upon theſe particulars, 1. That there was ſome time between the cry and his coming, as there is ſome time between the Harbinger, and the coming of his Lord, whoſe way he prepareth; becauſe the Virgins here ſeem to have ſome time to trim their Lamps, even the wiſe virgins; and for the fooliſh, it ſhould ſeem by the parable they had ſome time to trifle away, in buying, or going to aſſay it; but this I will not preſs, or urge too much, onelyonly ſure it is, that the wiſe virgins being found aſleep, after the warning, had time, and a heart given them to prepare to trim them. And therefore, If we underſtand it of them which ſhall be found alive at the laſt day, remember this: Some it may be will not be ſo aſleep, and yet need ſome preparation too. Some may be aſleep, and therefore will need ſome preparation. Now it is ſaid, that at the voice of Chriſt then coming with his Trumpet, 1 Theſ. 4.thoſe that are alive, ſhall not prevent them that are aſleep, go to heaven before them, But the dead in Chriſt ſhall riſe firſt, and what time there will be for it, or whether in a moment, I am not able to determine: Or whether they ſhall in a moment be changed, ſoul and body, that are alive, and ſo made ready to enter with him into glory? Or whether there ſhall be time for the working of it, I cannot ſay, but if their Lamps want trimming, their graces want furbiſhing, they ſhall have it. But if by the cry then you underſtand the Goſpel preached, then they may have time enough. 2. If there be time between the cry, and his coming, to take his own to himſelf, it ſeemeth not to be much; but how much, or how little we cannot ſay: If the cry be the ſickneſs, or meſſenger of death which is ſent to them; there is uſually ſome time, and not very much given, ſometimes more, ſometimes leſs. And ſo were the word importunately preſt, an awakening word, to rouze the poor ſecure people of God, there may be more or leſs time between this cry, and Chriſt his taking them to himſelf, but ſome time it ſeems there is for their trimming of their Lamps. But ſo much for Explication.
The Arguments now, wherefore there is ſuch a cry before the coming of Jeſus Chriſt.
The great reaſon is clear here in the Text; It is becauſe men are aſleep, many of them, both real Saints and formaliſts, they are Reaſ. 1.aſleep, and deep aſleep; and therefore there cometh a cry to awake them, it is not an ordinary voyce will do it, but a Cry. Some Boanerges, a ſon of thunder; to raiſe poor ſleepy ſinners, that he may not take them in a ſleep. Let not men think, though now they have a ſtil voyce of the word, and they can make a ſhift to ſleep notwithſtanding, they are Sermon-proof. If this will not awaken, he vvill have another cry that ſhall avvaken them, he will roar upon them out of heaven, thunder upon them, but he vvill vvaken them. While men are aſleep, they are not fit to meet the Lord Jeſus in his coming to judgement, whether it be to acquit them, or to condemn them: If it be in mercy, to take them to himſelf; while they are in a ſleep, they are not fit to meet him their Ornaments are laid aſide, their Lamps want trimming, as the Text hath it there; and therefore they muſt be awaked. Beſides, they are not fit to take notice of the infinite, and unſearchable riches of his grace manifeſted therein to them, in gathering them to himſelf; if we ſhould be called for in ſome f…ame that we are in ſometimes, truly we ſhould not be able to take comfort in our meeting with him, nor would he have any glory in our departure; and therefore uſually he doth awake his people, ſtir up their graces, that they may ſhine, and be active when he cometh to gather them; and then if he come in judgement, as againſt theſe fooliſh virgins, to blow out their Lamps in obſcure darkneſs, except they be awake in ſome meaſure, and their Conſciences opened, they will not be ſenſible of it; but when the Conſcience of an hypocrite is a little rouzed; O what fearful pre-apprehenſions there will be of the diſpleaſure of Chriſt! they are not fit to receive the ſentence of condemnation, except their Conſciences were rouzed; and therefore the Lord doth oftentimes, if not alway, awaken the Conſcience; the heart was never awake, but alway aſleep; but the Conſcience hath been aſleep, and now it muſt be awaked, ut ſentiat ſe mori; It never troubled the fooliſh virgins, though their Lamps were gone out, all the while they ſlept, and if they had dyed in that ſleep, they had as certainly periſhed; but not ſo ſenſibly, nor ſo ſeverely, as knowing the terrors of God which belong to them before; and the Lord will have them to lie down in the confuſion of their ſouls, for their folly, in reſting themſelves contented with a profeſſion, without the poſſeſſion of Jeſus Chriſt; without this oyl in their veſſels.
Another ground may be, for the Majeſty of the coming of Chriſt that there may be the more reverence, and awe of his Majeſty, Reaſ. 2.therefore he hath a Meſſenger going before his face, as Princes uſe to do; and happily in their Marriages of great perſons, there might be ſome ſuch thing, ſurely this is one reaſon wherefore he cometh at the laſt day, one piece of the glory of his appearing, the voice of the Arch-Angel, the Trumpet of God; ſo the cry that goeth before, it is much for his honour and Majeſty, that all the Meſſengers he ſends Either Afflictions, or Miniſters, all their Meſſage almoſt to his people is to prepare for his coming, to fit them for that appearing.
To render hypocrites inexcuſable, ſince they have a cry going before them to awaken them out of their ſleep, to ſet them awork Reaſ. 3.to get their grace, this oyl in their veſſels, they might have ſaid if they had been taken aſleep; why if they had had any warning, they would have done as others did: but now they are awaked, rouzed by this cry; and yet alas, they cannot get this oyl in their veſſels, they ſlept away their opportunity, the Goſpel muſt be preached for a witneſs to all Nations; and now they can have no cloak for their ſin, for their unreadineſs for his appearing, the Mat. 24. 14.…ord will manage his affairs ſo, as that every mouth may be ſtoped, and confeſs before him.
That none of his own may be …left; therefore he ſendeth a Cry before him, for none that are unfit for entrance with him into the Reaſ. 4.Marriage, ſhall enter into it; no ſoul ſhall go to heaven in a ſleep; they are not fit for it, as you heard before, nor when he cometh will he wait upon any; now is the time of waiting to be gracious to poor ſouls, then is the time of recompence, either love or diſpleaſure: …e will not tarry then; and therefore it is ſaid here in the Text, thoſe that were ready went with him in to the ſupper of the Lamb, into the marriage, thoſe that had their Lamps trimmed, and the door was ſhut; if the Saints themſelves ſhould not be found ready in ſome meaſure, he would not then ſtay; love is impatient of delay, then; now he would not loſe any, and therefore he is long-ſuffering, and patient, long before he cometh; for that very end, becauſe he would have none of his periſh: ſo alſo for the ſame reaſon doth he thus warn them by a Voyce, a Cry, to rouze them, awake them, leſt if they ſhould be found unready, they might miſs of entring with him.
For the Application:
Then brethren let us take notice of the goodneſs and tenderneſs of the Lord to his own people, in awakening them, though it Ʋſe 1.may be it may diſeaſe them a little at firſt, to have ſuch a cry in their ears, as not to ſuffer them to ſleep when they would neſtle themſelves upon their pillow; he is loath to leave them behind, he will not loſe any of them, and therefore he rouzeth them: If Jeſus Chriſt had left his Church in Cant. 5. Or his Diſciples ſleeping, and gone his ways, their condition had been ſad. If death had come upon poor David, while under that guilt in the matter of Ʋriah, and in ſo deep a ſleep, how ſad had his condition been? and ſo for Jonas, if the belly of hell had been his grave, the belly of the Whale, and he had not been awaked out of that ſleep, what had become of him? he had miſcarryed for ever, or at leaſt he had ſuffered great loſs; and therefore it is much tenderneſs in the Lord to his poor people, that he will not let them ſleep, but he rouzeth them up.
2. How eaſie ſhould this make, and how ſhould it ſweeten the ſevereſt of Gods dealings with us, to awake us? Suppoſe we have a dreadful ſound in our ears, when nothing elſe will do it, the terrors of God diſplayed, and ſet in battle array againſt our ſouls, God writeth bitter things againſt us, and all little enough to awaken us, we are ſo ſecure it may be; It muſt be the lowder voyce of the rod that muſt do it, if other means will not; and this ſeemeth Iob 15. 21.not joyons, but grievous at preſent, but it brings forth the peaceable fruits of righteouſneſs. O! the end will be ſweet, when the ſoul thereby ſhall be awaked, and kept awake, and ready for the appearing of the Lord Jeſus. I know the people of God would Heb. 12. 11.not for a world that day ſhould come upon them and finde them in ſuch a frame, ſo heavy; ſo liſtleſs, ſo untoward as they are ſometimes, and know not how to ſhake it off; I, but give the Lord leave to ſhake it off, bear then the Cry, though it be loud ſometimes, and ſeem offenſive, if this be the end, to awaken thee: O why ſhouldſt not thou bear it thankfully and chearfully?
3. If there be a Cry going before his coming, Then brethren ſee whether or no you have not had this Cry in part ſounding in your cars, and what uſe you have made of it, hath it awaked you, or not? The Goſpel, it is here the voyce of the watchmen, that continually ſtir you up, and tell you the day of Chriſt is coming, is at hand; If not the general, yet your particular day, the day of his coming to our ſouls particularly cannot be far off: this is the daily cry in our ears; and O that we could cry lowder, and lift up our voyce with more affection to your ſouls; but as ſuch poor worms are able, we cry to you, we are meſſengers ſent before his face, the Cry is, behold he cometh, go forth to meet him: Now brethren where are you? Are you upon your beds ſtill? How many have been awaked by this awakening word, the terrors of the Lord againſt them that ſleep? Have you done any thing to your further ſitting for heaven? Can you with comfort go forth to meet Jeſus Chriſt, open to him when he knocks? Surely you have not made uſe of this Cry that hath been made; Ah, how many are ſleeping as deeply as ever, and do not yet dream of his coming, though they know not but that he is at the door, and this night their ſouls ſhall be taken from them!
4. Then how ſhould this ſtir us up every one to attend to the cry that is made, and obey it; now you have the cry made in the word, this is our preaching, to awaken you. Look not upon Sermons only as the affectionate diſcourſe of a poor creature that wiſheth well to your ſouls, but look upon it as the warning word of Jeſus Chriſt, as the Cry that goeth before his preſence, afterwards himſelf w…ll come, and that ſpeedily, and how ſoon you know not, and as he findeth you then, ſo it will go with you. O that the Lord would ſpeak by his Spirit, and rattle you up a little poor ſleepy ſouls, both wiſe and fooliſh virgins, not that I deſire the grief of yours or mine own ſoul, for if I make you ſorry, who is it that muſt make me glad, but you that are made ſorry by me? as the Apoſtle ſaith: Yet dear friends, as I hope, I could be contented rather to be ſhaken out of a ſleep my ſelf, then be found ſleeping at the coming of Chriſt; ſo had I rather it ſhould be with you: how ſhall I beſpeak your poor ſouls this day? I would fain prevail with one poor ſoul, to ſhake off this drowſineſs and ſloath, and ſleepineſs that is upon us; O ariſe, ariſe, for your ſouls ſake, for your peace ſake, as you tender your comfort, now you hear the Cry going before him; think with your ſelves ſometimes, Can you look Jeſus Chriſt in the face with ſuch a frame of heart as you have every day? O ariſe, ariſe, will ſuch ſleepy ſouls be fit to ſing Allelujahs to eternity to God? O ariſe, ariſe Deborah Iudg. 5. 12.to ſing praiſes to the Lord, awake then that ſleepeſt, you cannot elſe be fit for heaven: this the firſt.
Conſider ſecondly, If this Cry will not awaken you, you ſhall have a more dreadful ſound in your ears, haply ere long ſome ſad blow or affliction, as there in Job, Elihu ſaith God ſpeaks once, yea twice, but man regardeth it not; often, but to no purpoſe; what then? Iob 33, 14, to 19.Why then he chaſteneth him with pain, and the multitude of his bones with ſtrong pain, and openeth his ear, and ſeals inſtruction to … …oring of his ear coſts him ſomething; Why will you put the Lord to it to ſpeak lowder, and more terribly to you? for if you belong to him, awaked you muſt be, or if you do not, awaked you ſhall be ſome way or other; and if this will not do it,
3. Death ſhall do it, and O how ſad will it be for a man to go on ſecurely, and not to behold his unfitneſs for the appearing of Chriſt, until juſt he be upon him? but if that will not do it, Sure I am the everlaſting burnings will awake you ſinners, if you never wake until then. O the Lord forbid you ſhould have hearts ſo deſperately hardened from his fear, as never to awake until there be no remedy, no providing for your eternal ſtate. O therefore ariſe, ariſe as thoſe Virgins did here in the Text; yea, though they were but formal profeſſors, yet they aroſe, their Conſciences were awaked, and ſomewhat they did, though they fell ſhort; what will become of you then, that never riſe, but will ſleep, let the Lord Cry, and though the trumpet ſound lowder and lowder; you look at the terrors of God, as the horſe that ruſheth into the battail, looketh at fear, that which is a fear to Iob 39. 22.others. Ah dear friends, it is no mocking at theſe things, your precious ſouls lye at the ſtake; therefore as you love them, beg of God a heart to tremble at this his Cry which is going out before him; how did all the Congregation tremble when the Lord ſounded Ier. 8. 6.upon Mount-Sinai at the giving of the Law? do but think how terrible the coming of Jeſus Chriſt will be, to avenge himſelf upon ſinners that violated this Law, and are not found in him! O this will ſurely awaken you when you ſhall have little liſt to ſleep Exod. 19. 16.or reſt any more for ever. But the Lord give you rather to hear this Cry, to have it ſounding in your ears continually; that you may recover ſtrength before you go hence, and be no more ſeen, that with the wiſe Virgins, having your Lamps trimmed, you may go in with the Bridegroom into the Marriage.
FOR THE SEASON of this coming of Chriſt, its preparation to it, It is at Midnight; a time later then they thought of, and ſooner then they expected; it is ſpoken by way of accommodation to the Parable, as the other was before, they fell aſleep, the Virgins did, and in the deepeſt of their ſleep the Bridegroom cometh, they are raiſed up to meet him. Note from hence.
That Jeſus Chriſt his coming to many poor ſouls will be at Midnight, Or his coming ordinarily is at Midnight. What this coming Doctr.is you have heard before. All the difficulty here is to underſtand what is meant by Midnight. Some have taken it properly for the Midnight, that part of the natural day, when the Sun is fartheſt off us, and when it is darkeſt in the night; and Jerom is ſaid to report it for an A. …radition, that Chriſt ſhould come at Midnight, and becauſe it is firſt in the order of nature to know the day, before the hour; therefore the day was pitched upon, and that was the even of the Paſsover, when it is ſaid, that the Primitive Churches did watch conſtantly yearly that night, expecting it, whereby it ſhould ſeem they knew not the year, but every year ſtood upon the watch at the ſame time; but methinks the year is firſt in order to be known before the day, and the day before the hour; but ſurely this was vain, and a miſtake of theirs, Mat. 24. 36.for our Saviour ſaith, that of that day and hour knoweth no man.
Therefore we ſhall underſtand it here by way of Accommodation to the Parable; and firſt then at Midnight ſiguratively may import in the firſt place an unknown time, it was not revealed before hand at what time he would come; our Saviour ſaith, If the good man had known when the thief would have come, he would have kept his houſe from being broken; of that day and hour knoweth no man, ſaith our Saviour, ſpeaking of his coming in general: it is a Luke 12. 39.ſecret thing, belonging to God, he keepeth it in his own power, as he ſaith there in the firſt of the Acts. And for the particular Act. …. ….day of his coming to us, it is not known to men for the moſt part; indeed Hezekiah his caſe was extraordinary, to have his limits ſet him ſo long before, to know the number of his days ſo long before hand, elſe ordinarily the people of God know not the time, or very little before they depart, or be called for. As theſe Virgins here, when they were aſleep; alas they knew not what time it was that the Alarm came, the Midnight is uſually the moſt unknown time, or at leaſt a time wherein the coming of Chriſt is moſt unknown, for to that indeed the ignorance is rather to be referred, though perſons aſleep at midnight know not the time of the night, nor any evil, which is ready to ſurprize them at that time.
2. The midſt of a mans life is ſuch a time, as the coming of Chriſt is not looked for: Now this is more then the former, for though they had not known the time; yet they might have waited, and expected every hour when he would have come; but they, becauſe it was uncertain, looked not for it: in a day he looked not for him, Luke 12. 46. It is likely they had looked for it, but their waiting was wearyed, they went forth to meet him at firſt, with their oyl, and Lamps, the wiſe Virgins, until they thought it long, for it is in reſpect of their opinions, that he is ſaid to delay his coming, as you have heard; Well, now their watchful eys were ſealed up with ſleep, ſo that he came later then their expectations, and he came ſooner then their expectations alſo, for they were ſurprized by the Cry, before they were aware, juſt as a ſervant that hath in the beginning of the night expected his Maſters coming home, and a good while waited for it; now he giveth over looking for him, ſo his Maſter cometh after his waiting, and yet before it too, for when he is at his reſt, and before he awakes again to return to his waiting for his Maſter, he cometh upon him, this is the very caſe: a child of God it may be at the beginning when the impreſſions of God upon the heart are ſtrong and freſh, he expecteth the day of Chriſt his coming hath it much in his eye; but after awhile, when he ſeeth he cometh not, he letteth down the watch, and groweth more remiſs by far, and when he is in the depth of that ſleep, before he renew his watching likely, the Lord Jeſus cometh upon him.
3. A little more particularly, which is but the beating out of the former, he cometh at the midnight of mens lives, that is to ſay, at ſuch a time of their lives, as they neither hoped for it, nor feared it, for the expectation of the coming of Jeſus Chriſt doth diverſly affect men, according to the different conditions of their ſouls, if they be ſuch as are ready for it, for his appearing habitually ready, and actually ready; that is to ſay, ſuch as have his grace in their hearts, oyl in their veſſels, and that grace doth not lye ſleeping there, but it is in act, and lively, and the affection flaming towards heaven, and the eye upon the recompence of reward, ſuch a man, he will act his hope for that day, look for it with hope, and with deſire, becauſe he expecteth then a Crown of glory, a fulneſs of joy unſpeakable, everlaſting boſom-communion with 2 Cor. 5. 6, 8.Jeſus Chriſt; knowing alſo, that while he is preſent in the body, he is abſent from the Lord, his looking for the appearing of the Lord, is I ſay with hope and deſire, becauſe it is the day of his raigning, the accompliſhment of it, when the God of peace ſhall bruiſe Satan perfectly under his feet, with whoſe temptations it may be, he is even wearyed out, and therefore as a labouring man longs for the ſhadow of the evening, ſo doth he deſire it: Now a child of God, he may have the root of this grace of hope, for the coming foreign, as Thcophil. Rom. 8.of Jeſus Chriſt; but while he is aſleep, his hope is not in act when it ſhould be, he doth not ſtretch forth the neck as one earneſtly expecting it, foreign, he doth not lift up his head becauſe his redemption draweth near, and his ſalvation is nearer now then it was when he believed, alas his hope is aſleep with him. A woman eſpouſed expecting her Husband to come and Marry her, deſires the day, but in the mean time falls aſleep, then her deſires and hopes ceaſe, looks not for him all that while, and in that time he cometh.
On the other hand they fear it not neither, for they are aſleep, and ſo their expectation ceaſeth; as priſoners, they fear the coming of the Judge, they have a dreadful ſound in their ears, and fear exceedingly when the Judge will come to deliver them up to the tormentors, to the execution, Sentence being paſt upon them; but if they fall aſleep now, their fear ceaſeth if their ſleep be faſt; ſo a man that dwells in a place of danger for robbers, he may expect them and fear; and yet if after a while of waking, they come not, he falls aſleep, he fears them not then, as he would do if he were awake, in an hour he thinketh not of it, Luke 12. So wicked▪ Luke 12. 40.men and hypocrites, formal profeſſors, if they be conſcious to their conditions at any time, as when an hypocrite hath his Conſcience inlightned at firſt, why then ſurely there cannot but be a fearful expectation of the coming of Jeſus Chriſt to judge them; but when once they fall aſleep, thoſe impreſſions they had, wear off by degrees, then they fear not, though they have as much cauſe as ever they had; ſo then, the Midnight is a time not expected.
The Arguments whereby this may be confirmed. Firſt, It is for his own glory, to come in ſuch a time, unknown. The glory of Reaſ. 1. Prov. 25. 2.God is to conceal a thing, but the honour of Kings is to ſearch out a matter; here is an oppoſition of perſons and actions; the perſons oppoſed are Kings, and the God of Heaven, the King of Kings; the honour of Kings, is to ſearch out a matter, they are men of poor, ſhallow apprehenſions, and little knowledge; and therefore they had need to ſearch to finde out a matter; but now the Lord he is an infinite unſearchable wiſe God, and he knoweth all things, and it is for his honour to keep ſome things ſecret, that he may be admired, reverenced, adored, his unſearchableneſs acknowledged. No further then he pleaſed, were the myſteries of himſelf and his ſo… revealed to the ages before, nor now at this day, much he hath reſerved for another time and place; and that is, the time of his coming, his own ſecret, which belongs to him, he hath kept in his own power, and it is for his honour ſo to do. And this is the firſt.
2. Therefore he will come ſo ſuddainly and unexpectedly, as Reaſ. 2.I may ſay, at Midnight, that many, yea the moſt of men, that men might learn to watch, to be alway ready; this is abundantly proved, by the many exhortations of our Saviour to his Diſciples to watch, inforced by this very Argument; therefore alſo be ye …at 24. 44.ready, for in ſuch an hour as ye think not, the ſon of man cometh, even as a thief in the night. In the foregoing Verſe: Behold I Rev. 16. 15.come as a thief, ſaith he, bleſſed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, leſt he be found naked, and they ſee his ſhame. Whether this be underſtood of his laſt coming or no, if any coming of Chriſt, being ſuddain, unexpected, uncertain, it ſhould teach us to watch; and is not this the Uſe which our Saviour maketh of it in the thirteenth verſe of this Chapter? And ſo in that Epiſtle to the Church of Sardis, If therefore thou ſhalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief. The reaſon why he tells us he will come Rev. 3.like a thief, ſuddainly, in the time leaſt ſuſpected, is to deter men from ſleeping and ſecurity; for if they lye to ſleep, it will be ſuch a ſuddain ſurpriſal, but if they watch and be ready, it will not be ſo unexpected, and this is a reaſon, I ſay, wherefore the Lord keepeth it ſecret and uncertain when he will come, that men might watch. As Caeſar, it is ſaid of him that he would never let his ſouldiers know the time of his removal, or the time of his Onſet, ſcil. Ʋt paratum, & intentum momentis omnibus quo vellet ſtate educeret. So the Lord Jeſus, who is the Captain of our ſalvation, he letteth not us know when it will be, that we might Heb. 2. 10.expect it alway. If men ſhould know that Jeſus Chriſt would come to call for them but ſixteen years hence, or ſix years; alas, how bold would they make with him ordinarily, and ſpend five of the ſix in vanity, if not more; and truly ſuch is the corruption of our hearts alſo, that that very thing which our Saviour, who well knew the conſtitutions of men, and what might be the moſt likely Argument for watchfulneſs, lays down this, of the uncertainty of it, unexpectedneſs of it, if men ſleep, ſurprizing them, yet we will make bold, and venture at all, in ſo much that he ſeldom cometh to a ſoul, and findeth him watching.
3. To make his coming like an evil ſnare to ſinners, to hypocrites. So it is in that place of Luke, take heed your hearts be not over-charged Reaſ. 3. Luke 2…. 35.with cares of this world, &c. and that day come upon you as a ſnare; A ſnare you know, is a ſad thing, and that which ſuddainly E…eſ. 9. 12.and unavoidably ſeizeth upon the poor beaſt or bird; they are taken in an evil ſnare, when they are ſleeping, and ſo brought to ruine, this is the caſe, it cometh on them like a ſnare, like a Net, from on high, as ſnares rained from Heaven, no avoyding them; or …elſe as a ſnare hid, when men think nothing, or the beaſts are at their prey, and delighting themſelves in that, before they are aware the foot or neck is in the ſnare, and there is no breaking of it, it is too ſtrong a ſnare.
4. Then uſually hypocrites and ſinners are at the worſt, and the …eaſ. 4.people of God after their awaking, and ſtirring up, will be at the beſt; ſinners at the worſt, when they have ſetled upon their Lees in ſecurity, and ſleep for a while, the fooliſh virgins never …d a heart awake towards God; their heart never anſwered that Call, Awake thou that ſleepeſt, their eys indeed were opened, and they walk… up and down as men may do when the heart is aſleep; they had their Lamps, ſome ſhew, ſome formality, but now when this day ſurprizeth them, all is gone, their form periſheth, or at leaſt will ſtand them in no ſtead, their Lamps were gone out; and therefore this is the very nick of time wherein the Lord Jeſus will ſurprize hyporrites, and give them their recompence of reward. The people of God that ſleep, it is true they are unready when the Cry cometh, but O how will this humble them, to be found ſleeping, and what is the top of the Ladder but humility? when will the …oul be fitteſt to e…alt Chriſt but then? and ſo when their Lamps are trimmed up again, they will ſhine more bright then before, and therefore then alſo will be a time for his coming to them.
1. Then by way of Application, this may inform us how it cometh to paſs ſo many in the midſt of their plots and purpoſes Ʋſe 1.are taken away, without any hope in their death; ſurely every man would be happy, they would have heaven, but they think it is time enough to look after that when they have nothing elſe to do. O if they had compaſt ſuch a thing, ſuch a Land, and ſuch a Houſe, gotten ſuch an inheritance, then they would lay down theſe things, and prepare for heaven! and ſo the milk of their breaſts, and marrow of their bones, they lay out upon their youthful Luſts, and think their old age time enough to mind thoſe ſerious things; But the day cometh upon them at unawares, and ſnatcheth them away in his wrathful diſpleaſure, in the midſt of their endeavours for the world, plucks them away from their place, and it knoweth them no more. Go to, ye that ſay, we will go to ſuch a City, and buy, Iames 4. 13.and ſell, and get gain; whereas they know not what is in the womb of a day; hence it is, that ſo many periſh from the way, they are cut off in the midſt, and never reach their expectations, and ſo remedileſly periſh. This day cometh upon them as a ſnare, when they are ſitting like ſo many Birds, pluming themſelves, feeding, and ſporting, and ſinging, it cometh upon them, and they are carryed away to their place. Ah dear friends! what ſottiſh, ſtupid, and ſtrange preſumption poſſeſſeth poor ſinners hearts, as if they were of the Counſel of God, as if they knew the number of their Moneths before hand, as Hezekiah did, and therefore might make bold to laviſh out week after week upon their luſts? do you know whether this night the ſnare will come upon you? O that Sinners could but lay theſe things to heart, that they might not periſh like Beaſts overtaken i… an evil ſnare: but this is but the firſt.
2. It will be a word of Reproof of the boldneſs of ſome, who Ʋſe 2.take upon them to know the time, and many wanton wits have dared to ſport themſelves in ſo ſerious a thing, to foretell the year, one placing it upon 1533. others upon 1657. Alſted. Chronol. 1494. Pi…us Mirandula; upon 1905. Nicol. Cuſanus, upon 1700. and many others; See Trap upon Mat. 24. 36. Many whereof time hath already refuted, the grounds are weak of many of them, this is to be wiſe above what is written, vain man would be wiſe, and herein he ſheweth himſelf a wild Iob 11. 12.Aſſes Colt indeed, to pry into the ſecret which God hath kept in his own power; no, no, it is unknown, the day, and hour, the longer, or ſhorter time, there is no limiting of it by us, it will be at midnight, when men leaſt ſuſpect ordinarily, but Acts 17.enough of that.
3. It may teach us further, that when we leaſt expect it, it is Ʋſelikely to be neareſt to us; a man would think this ſhould be a ſtartling word to all poor ſleeping ſinners; you put away the evil day, the day of the Lord far from you; it is never nearer to you than then; never are men uſually more unfit for that day, then when they put it far from them, and never is it uſually more near to them, then at that time. It is obſerved in nature, that uſually before an Earthquaeke cometh to ſwallow up men, there is a great calm; the air is quiet, and the wind lies, before the great rain fals. When was the Old World more near deſtruction by that day of judgement from the Lord, then when they thought leaſt of it, put it fartheſt off, were moſt ſecure. It is obſerved, the Flood came in the Spring-time, when the Spirit of God, began to renew the face of the earth, they had as fair, a hopeful, a fruitful year as before; though there was one doubting Noah among them that dreamed of a dry winter, yet when they were moſt ſecure, moſt deeply ſecure, then the Flood came; when things were in their prime, and their hopes of corn, and wine, and oyl in their flower, the Flood came, and ſwept them away. And ſo Sodom, when the Sun aroſe upon it, what fairer ground of hope? of a fair day doubtleſs they expected it: they put off the day, but then it was neareſt to them. So Laiſh, ſecure before ruin, and Agag; ſo when they cry peace, peace, they Iudg. 18. 9. 1 Sam 15. 1 Theſ. 5. 3.ſhall do well, God proclaims war againſt them by his Meſſengers. Think of it brethren, with your ſelves; how ſtand your hearts affected, in reſpect of this day? are you not ſecure? do you wait for it, believe it? the leſs you fear it, the more cauſe you have to fear it; or the leſs hope, and love, and deſire, and waiting there is in any of us to it, the more cauſe we have to fear it; for it uſually ſeizeth upon men at midnight. Is it not midnight with ſome of us? doſt not thou ſleep thy faſt, thy dead ſleep? nothing will awake thee, thou makeſt a mock of all theſe things: The Lord give you but an eye to ſee, for the ſnare is even coming upon you, it is neareſt to ſuch perſons of all others.
4. It will be a word of Terror then, to all hypocrites and formaliſts, Ʋſeand all ſinners, in that this day of the Lord will ſurprize you and come upon you at unawares. What maketh death ſo terrible to poor ſinners when they come to it, but the judgement which followeth it? ſo that let a ſinner have warning of it, and it is terrible, but when it cometh upon a ſudden and unexpected this exceedingly addeth to the terror of it, it amazeth, aſtoniſheth. O what a terror muſt it needs be to the old world! that when their hopes were in the ſpring, in their verdure, then all on a ſudden, the world was on a flood, the fountains of the deep and the clouds above conſpired to ſwallow them up; And will it not be, think you, as great an aſtoniſhment, when the world at the end ſhall look for nothing leſs, and before they are aware the world ſhall be on a flame about their ears? O then the ſinners in Sion will be afraid, and fearfulneſs will ſurprize the hypocrite! put Iſa. 33. 14.as good a face upon it now as you can. How terrible is a ſudden ſtorm upon the poor Mariners? which they never lookt for, they are all inveloped in darkneſs; the clouds and ſeas ſeem to come together. How terrible was the coming of Gideon upon the Midiani…es Iudg. 7. 19.on a ſudden at midnight, when all aſleep likely, to ſee and hear ſo many Trumpets blowing, ſo many pitchers clattering, ſo many Lamps burning! ſuch a cry, the ſword of the Lord and of Gideon, all on a ſudden! O how terrible it was, it put them beſides themſelves, they knew not what to do, they thruſt their ſwords in one anothers bowels! O that we had but hearts to believe how terrible a day it will be to us, if it overtake us as a ſnare. Yea ſurely it will have ſomewhat of amazement, terror in it, to the people of God themſelves that ſhal be found ſleeping, with whom it ſhall be midnight, in reſpect of ſecurity; And though they may avoid the ruine and deſtruction of the day, they ſhall have a ſhare in the diſtraction and terror of it, but poor ſinners, poor hypocrites, poor formaliſts ſhall have the amazing terror, and never come to themſelves, never recover themſelves, but periſh for ever by it.
5. Then knowing the terror of the Lord we perſwade men to this Ʋſe 2 Cor. 5. 11.watching, which is the main thing intended in the Parable. And concerning which you have heard ſomewhat already, having ſpoken ſo largely to the Privation or defect of this watching, in the ſlumbering and ſleeping of the Virgins; Nor do I intend to inſiſt largely upon this watching here, only here I ſuppoſe it moſt naturally falls into this main part of the Parable. Watching here, is as much as diligent taking heed to our ſelves that that day come not upon us at unawares; As a man that watcheth againſt an enemy is ſurprized, he takes diligent heed: ſo our Saviour, take heed to your ſelves that that day come not upon you as a ſnare, ſo take heed to your ſelves, and the flock over which the Lord hath made you overſeers, &c. Watch therefore, ſaith he, for after my departure grievous wolves will enter. As a party of ſoldiers, Luke 12. 34.when they would take diligent heed to themſelves, leſt they be ſurprized by their enemy, they watch, they expreſs it that way; ſo here then, The Exhortation is brethren, to us all, To take diligent heed to our ſelves, leſt we be ſurprized by the coming of Jeſus Chriſt; for we know not when he will come, Acts. 20. 31.there is no determined time, and if we take not diligent heed, it will come upon us unawares.
You have had ſome of the Motives to preſs this duty heretofore, or the Caution againſt ſleeping; I pray you remember, how you cannot be too often put in mind of them; ſurely our Saviour cometh over with it ſo often, again, and again; you have heard the danger you are in while you ſleep. But we will rather take up a Conſideration or two from hence.
Firſt, the difficulty of the duty, ſo continually to take ſo diligent heed; If the good man had known what hour the thief would have come, he might more eaſily have watched to have prevented him; it is much more eaſie to hold out ſuch a watch for a while, then conſtantly, now every hour being in danger, becauſe we know not what hour he will come, this is more difficult; which ſhould not diſcourage us, but whet us on to double diligence. Jam per periculum anim… Alexandri; It is an eaſie thing to be a Chriſtian as many are, lazy droans, liſtleſs, ſleepy Profeſſors, that alas, alas, would ſcarce ever be found upon their watch, when ever he ſhould come; But it is a matter of great difficulty, and will work all your faculties to the utmoſt, to watch for his appearing.
2. The dreadfulneſs of the thing; if you be ſurprized would you have Jeſus Chriſt find you with your ornaments laid aſide, find you naked? how will you hold up your heads, and look him in the face? either you will periſh with the fooliſh Virgins, (and I doubt that will prove the portion of many of our ſouls) or elſe you will be ſaved; but you muſt run through fear, through ſome ſhame, confuſion, diſtraction, when you are taken unawares. Beſides, you are not of the night, but of the day, ſaith the Apoſtle, that that day ſhould not take you at unawares, 1 Theſ. 5. 5. And otherwiſe, we give not God the end of his diſpenſations, which is that we might watch.
What then ſhould we do? ſurely brethren, There are two things ſpecially for us to do, according to the ſcope of this Parable, which our Saviour thus applyeth, becauſe the fooliſh Virgins, and the wiſe, both by their ſleeping ſuffered ſuch loſs; the one loſt all their precious ſouls, all the world not being able to recover them; the other loſt their comfort, and ſweet peace, and quiet, and had much coniuſion in their latter end, the ſoul being in a hurry to make ready; when it ſhould go forth to meet the Lord Jeſus, ſhould have nothing elſe to do but to dye; Therefore this watching being oppoſed to both their ſleeping, I conceive there are two things ſpecially in it.
Firſt, That you be ſure to have your oyl in your veſſels ready, that we have grace in our hearts. Take heed to your ſelves diligently then in the name of Jeſus Chriſt, that you give not ſleep to your eys, nor ſlumber to your eye-lids; give not the Lord, nor your ſouls reſt, until you have this Communication of Chriſt to your poor ſouls; how many poor hearts that hear this word, have not a dram of grace? though you have long had a name to be Chriſtians, yet that hath been all, Brethren, What do you mean? can you dye comfortably, hopefully, except you have grace in your hearts, this oyl, this Spirit of grace dwelling in you? will any thing elſe enable you to lift up your faces before him, but his righteouſneſs and holineſs made over to you, imputed unto you as an Inner, and Outward Garment, or Cloathing? I have hope of you you would not prove Fooliſh Virgins, and that you are not ſo careleſs as not to regard whether you be found to have grace, yea, or no; If there be any ſuch, let me tell ſuch a man, his Condition is next to deſperate; the Lord ſmite ſuch ſinners hearts; but if you do not care, there will come a time when you will care, and every vein in your hearts will ake, when you ſhall find, alas, you have trifled away your time, your day you had to get grace in, and now you have none; Do you think brethren, to go to heaven without grace? muſt there be a wedding garment to his Supper here, and muſt not there much more be a wedding Garment upon them that come into that neareſt Mat. 22. 12.Fellowſhip with the Lord Jeſus for ever? Do poor ſinners eat, and drink judgement to themſelves, if they come without grace to the Supper? O brethren! do you think he will endure you to enter, if you have not grace to ſit with him at his Table to eternity? No: believe it, Sinners ſhall not ſtand in the Congregation Pſal. 15.of the upright; O that the Lord would perſwade you! How far are many of us from the Apoſtles temper! he counted all things dung and droſs, not worthy his thoughts in compariſon of being found in Chriſt; and do not we count theſe things dung and droſs in compariſon of the world? if it were not ſo, ſurely men would lay out ſome of their care, ſome of their thoughts ſome of their time for the getting Chriſt and grace.
2. We muſt labour alſo to have our graces, to get and keep our graces in act, in a lively frame, our hearts flaming towards the Lord continually; the wiſe Virgins they ſlept, and while they ſlept, they could not watch; now they had grace in their hearts, but they kept it not in uſe, in exerciſe, as they ſhould have done, and therefore they underwent much inconvenience, as you have heard; and therefore our Saviour exhorts us to watch, to take diligent heed, that we run not the like hazard with them, no more than with the fooliſh virgins: Therefore labour to get your graces lively: how ſhould we think with our ſelves often when we find a liſtleſs f…ame growing upon us: O what would my Condition be, if the Lord Jeſus ſhould come this day to my poor ſoul? Labour to keep your faith lively, your Love lively, ſo your humility and ſelfabaſing, that you may exalt him.
But alas, you will ſay, how can we do this? we are poor, imperfect creatures, and therefore can we be alway acting our graces? is it likely we ſhould keep them alway in act? that is enough for Angels, and glorified Saints to do, who are therefore called watchers.
I anſwer to this; It is true, it is not required we ſhould always be acting of grace, for then we ſhould be able to do nothing elſe; then we ſhould neither ſleep, nor follow the works of ſome of our callings, which require the intention of the mind as well as the labour of the hand, therefore that is not the meaning, nor indeed were we able to do it, our ſpirits would fail us. But how then?
Why, We muſt be acting our graces when we are called to act them, when ever is a time; Mephiboſheth eats bread continually at Davids table; not that he did nothing elſe but eat, without any 2 Sam. 9. 13.intermiſſion, but at meal-times he did eat continually. Note brethren, we ſhould ſee to it, that upon all occaſions we act our graces, upon every temptation wherewith we are aſſaulted, we ſhould act our faith, upon every tryal our patience, upon every manifeſtation of himſelf to us to act our love, and humility, and thank-fulneſs.
But ſpecially in our drawings nigh to him, then ſee to it that we have our graces in act; which alas, how ſar ſhort do we fall of, as in our daily performances, prayers, publike, ſecret; So, meditating, reading, hearing, receiving the Lords Supper, if we would have them bright, we muſt exerciſe them at theſe times, how ſhould we now renew our repentance, in waſhing Pſal 26. 6.our hands in innocency, as clean as if waſhed in innocency it ſelf, Gen. 35.and ſo compaſs the Altar of God? How ſhould we as Jacob his family, beſides putting away their Idols, change their garments alſo! we ſhould labour to get cloathed with another Spirit, another frame then ordinary, when we come before him Luke 12. 43. Mat. 25. 26.upon theſe occaſions. It is ſaid concerning the Steward, which ſpecially concerneth the Miniſters of Chriſt; Bleſſed is that ſervant, whom his Maſter ſhall ſind ſo doing, giving every one their portion in due ſeaſon; A ſlothful ſervant is a wicked ſervant, our Saviour ſaith, he that receiveth grace in vain, improveth it not, Iſa. 64. 7.ſtirreth not up himſelf to lay hold upon Chriſt, upon ſpecial occaſions; ſuch as are on foot upon ſuch a day as this, oporte… Epiſcopum concionari, ſaith one eminent in his time. The Lord hath given his Spirit to all believing people, they have the habits of grace, and he giveth it them as a ſtock to trade with, as principles to act for him in their places; O bleſſed is that ſervant whom his Lord ſhall find ſo doing; he ſaith not, whom his Lord …hall find with grace in his heart, but ſo doing; acting his grace. Ah bleſſed ſouls, whom he ſhall find praying, keeping up thoſe duties in a lively manner, whom he ſhall find receiving the ſealing Ordinances, and with a wedding Garment upon him, a lively frame of ſpirit fit for it. You have the Spirit of Chriſt dwelling in you, if you be his, and will you let ſuch a precious principle lie idle, it is given to mortifie, to ſanctifie; O bleſſed ſoul that ſhall be found ſo doing, even by the Spirit, to mortifie the deeds of the Fleſh; ſurely brethren, Rom 8▪ 13.nothing will keep us more awake, then action will; if we be found ſleeping, it will not be comfortable to us, therefore look to the acting of your graces, I beſeech you.
Again, Labour to love his appearing ſo, as that we may wait for it; for indeed if we love it not, we ſhall be apt to put the thoughts of it far from us, labour either to love it, or fear it, according to thy Condition; if thy Calling and Election be made ſure, if thou knoweſt the things freely given thee of God, then be aſhamed that any thing in the world ſhould lie ſo near thee, as not to deſire to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt; renew theſe deſires day by day, nothing but the greater glory of God ſhould make us willing to be here; indeed action for Chriſt and his honour is of a high nature, and ought to have great weight with us, as the Apoſtle hath it; but yet methinks the burthen of ſins ſhould make us groan for it; methinks if we have an eye upon the recompence of reward, the joy that is ſet before thee, that full enjoyment of Jeſus Chriſt, there ſhould be a greater deſire to be with Jeſus Chriſt, knowing you are abſent; now where there is ſuch a deſire, and ſuch a groaning, ſurely that day will not come upon them ſo unexpectedly and terribly.
If we have not this aſſurance brethren, methinks then the fear of this day of Jeſus Chriſt ſhould hold us in ſuch bondage all our lives-long, it ſhould ſo keep us awake, we ſhould have little mind to ſleep, if we labour to keep upon our hearts freſh▪ our own Condition, but we ſhould be up, and working to make our calling and election ſure, and ſo we might be found doing; and ſurely brethren, that poor ſoul trembling, that thus follows hard after Chriſt, if the day come upon him before he have this aſſurance, yet ſhall it be more comfortable to him, then to a man that hath had more peace, and fals aſleep in the lap of it, and ſo is overtaken.