A Warning Piece for the Slumbering Virgins, Title page – Introduction 1
A VVarning-Piece FOR THE Slumbring Virgins.
OR, AN ALARM TO THE Friends of the Bridegroom, IN Some Awakening Meditations upon Chriſt's own Watch-word, Matth. 26.41. Watch and Pray, that ye enter not into temptation, &c.
By Geo: Scortreth, Preacher of the Goſpel in Lincoln.
Revel. 16.15.
Behold, I come as a thief, bleſſed is he that Watcheth, & keepeth his garments, leſt he walk naked, &c.
London, Printed for Thomas Brewſter, at the Three Bibles in Paul's Church-yard, near the Weſt End, 1657.
To the Friends and followers of the Lamb.
Beloved in our Lord,
I Had not thought to have printed any of my poor Labours in the Lord; though i'has been much upon my heart, they might be imprinted upon the hearts of the hearers by the Spirit of the living God: But ſome late impulſes have been upon my ſpirit, (ſince infirmities have grown upon me) to leave a few Words with the ſervants of Chriſt before I leave them; looking up to him, to leave his bleſsing with them; and that upon theſe and the like Conſiderations: 1. The ſtrange Slumbrings of ſo many backſliding Chriſtians at this day, have ſomewhat awakened my drowſie ſpirit; and my eye hath affected my heart, to ſee ſo many ſleepy eyes, and heavy hearts; ſo that I am not at reſt; till I have eaſed my own ſoul in warning them openly, as in weeping for them in ſecret. 2. The Lord hath been following me with awakening diſpenſations; morning by morning awakening my ear to receive inſtruction: and while he hath ſhaken his rod of Fatherly Correction over me, a deep Conviction hath fallen from Heaven upon me, that it is the work of the day in its day, for the Watchmen to cry aloud, ſaying, Awake, Awake. 3. I have ſome ſweet perſwaſions through mercy, that whiles I am at the Lords work, ſtirring up others to watch and pray, I ſhall find him at work within, ſtirring me up to take hold of him; and giving in ſome awakening heart-reflexions upon theſe Meditations of Watchfulneſſe; and my heart tells me, the Watchmen of all others would be well awakened, and ever upon their Watch at ſuch a day as this. 4. Pity to ſlumbring Saints, who hear not the ſounding of their own bowels to make them pity themſelves, hath moved me to knock at their doors, and ask them how they do at heart; They little think (alas) now their hearts are aſleep, of the ſorrowes, that are coming upon the men and women that are at eaſe in Zion, as ſorrow upon a woman in travell. 5. The love of Chriſt conſtrains me to call upon his ſloathfull Servants to ariſe and fall to their Maſters work; who hath moſt to do i'th laſt dayes, and would not be left alone at it: many heads, hands and hearts buſie together, would make light work: 'twould go merrily on, and not ſo heavily, as now it does, whiles ſo many heads and hearts are heavy with ſleep. 6. The ſtirring Appetites of ſome hungry craving ones, (indeared to me in the bonds of the Goſpel,) who are daily waiting with longing for one cluſter of grapes or other, from the Celeſtial Canaan, have made me the more willing to preſſe this one grape for their ſakes: happily they may find a little ſweetneſſe in it, (though none elſe ſhould) as taking and taſting it with a good will, from his hand, whoſe heart is towards them. And if any of theſe ſhould unhappily be overtaken with that dead ſleep of midnight-ſecurity, which hath ſurprized ſo many at this day; who knowes but the importunities of one that is their friend, may prevail with them, to riſe and open the door of their hearts, when the Bridegroom himſelf ſhall knock, who is their beſt and deareſt Friend i'th World.
Theſe being the wheels which have ſet this Watch on motion, you may not expect any Eye or Ear-affecting curioſity, but heart-awakening Goſpel Simplicity; the entiſing words of mans wiſdome have lull'd many aſleep: and 'tmuſt be plainneſſe of ſpeech in the demonſtration of the Spirit, that muſt awaken them. I have moſt to do in this Work with Wiſdomes Children, who have learnt to become fooles, that they may be wiſe, and had rather hear one word ſpoken to the underſtanding, then a thouſand words in an unknown tongue.
The corporal weakneſſes and ſpiritual wants of one groaning under an heap of infirmities, will make a ſufficient Apology for all wants and weakneſſes as to matter or method: 'Tis broken meat, this, for broken hearts, who will be gathering up a few Crums here and there; and if it be well digeſted within, 'twill be the leſſe matter, though it be ſo indigeſted without.
I am very ſenſible, 'tis ſowen in great weakneſſe, (alas, how can ſo poor a nothing Creature do otherwiſe?) yet I am not out of heart or hopes, through grace, but it may riſe up in power, to the raiſing up of ſome that are aſleep in ſin, and the rowſing up of others that are under a ſinful ſlumber, by the power of the Spirit: which is his hearts deſign and deſire, who would willingly beſpeak your heart-remembrances, while he takes the humble boldneſse to be one of your weak, (though willing) Remembrancers in the Name of the Lord, that he may be accounted worthy to be found a Watchful Servant of Chriſt Jeſus our Lord, and
Your faithful Servant for Jeſus ſake, G. S. From my Chamber in little Queenſtreet, Lond. M. 7. 1656.