A Warning Piece for the Slumbering Virgins, Part 3 – Part 4
Application by way of Information.
1. Is it a Goſpel-duty to watch? then ſee the neceſſitie of an awakening Miniſtrie; in ſuch a ſleepie age as this; there was never more need of awakened and awakening overſeers to watch over us, to lift up their voyce like a Trumpet, cry to aloud and ſpare not,Eccl. 12.11 ſaying, Awake; oh what need of goads and nailes to be faſtened in our ſides, and upon our hearts by the maſters of the aſſemblies from that one Shepherd? 'Tis time for wiſdome to cry in the Streets, Prov. 1.20 8.4.to utter her voyce in the chief places of concourſe, ſaying, unto you, O men, I call, &c: When the Virgins ſlumber thus, both the wiſe and fooliſh; 'twill be a great mercy to have the Word of the Lord, as a hammer at our doores yea as a fire within us; and to feele the ſword of the Spirit pricking us to the very heart, o keep us awake in Spirit, when ſo many are heavie with ſleep there: There was never more work, then now, for the Sons of thunder; Ah, that Spirit of ſlumber that is fallen upon this generation, will make work enough, for all the faithfull watchmen, throughout the Nation; And me-thinks, the ſtrong ſlumbrings, of ſo many ſleepie profeſſors, ſhould exceedingly ſtartle and awaken thoſe that watch for Souls; 'Tis not for them to ſlumber of all others, eſpecially at ſuch a time, when ſo many lie ſleeping round about them: Oh woe, woe to the blind Watchmen, the dumb Dogs that cannot bark ſleeping, lying down, Iſa. 56.10.loving to ſlumber; who make beds of eaſe for bedrid ſpirits, and ſow Pillows to ſluggards arm-holes, who propheſie, ſmooth things, to a people that love to have it ſo, that are all for eaſie propheſie, or none at all; Oh then let all the watchmen of the houſe of Iſrael, whom the Lord hath ſet upon the Watch-Tower, Watch and Pray, and preach in ſeaſon and out of ſeaſon, and give the people warning of this hour of temptation, whether they will heare, or whether they will forbear, that they may deliver their own Souls, and happily recover others alſo from the ſnare of the Devil, who are (aſleep in his armes and) taken captive by him at his will; And let all the Lords people highly prize and heartily affect an heart-awakening, ſearching, quickening Miniſtrie, and welcome that word moſt, which comes moſt ſtirringly home, and is moſt ſoundly ſet on by the power of the Spirit.
2. Is it a Goſpel-Duty to Watch? then what a ſpecial mercy is it at this day, to have an awakened heart. The Keeper of Iſrael Watches very graciouſly over thoſe, he keeps watchfull; 'Tis no common favour to be kept alive at ſuch a dead time; ſure the Father of mercies looks moſt ſweetly to thoſe Children, and will ſmile moſt lovingly upon them, whom he cauſes to lie broad-waken, looking after him; Oh bleſſed be his name, that he reſerves a little remnant by him, waiting on him, and for him; What would become of us all, if a few were not upon their watch, would not the Lord awake to judgment, were all aſleep about him, and none awaked to cry for mercy? would not he lay about to purpoſe, did not ſome hold his hands, by lifting up their hands and hearts to Heaven? Is he not readie to ſay, Let me alone, that I may conſume them? and is he not let alone by all, but an handfull of wraſtling Saints that have got within him? would he not be gone, (think you) but that his deare ones watch him, cry mightily after him, and will not let him goe? Nay, is he not going about to take his glory, Spirit, grace, Goſpel, and all away with him? 'Tis well for us there are ſome watching, waiting, weeping, about the bed of Solomon, (loath to let him goe) valiant men, Cant. 3.7.even the valiant of Iſrael; Oh happie Souls, that lie ever upon this heavenly watch, who watch the more, the rather, becauſe ſo many ſlumber; It will goe well with them, how ill ſoever things go, for,
1. They are neereſt mercy of all other; if any ſweet influences fall from Heaven, they are waiting with mouths wide open, Job. 29.23.as for the latter rain (as of old they waited for Job.) If the Sun of righteouſneſſe ariſe, they are like to ſee him firſt; if his light ſhine, their eyes are open; and if his love breathe, their hearts are open; if good reports come, to make the bones fat, who but they will heare, who are ever hearkening? When ever the Lord ſhall open the door of hope, they are next hand; when the day breaks and the ſhadows flee away, they'l be the bleſſed ſpectators, who watch more then they that watch for the morning; If the Spirit be powred forth as floods, who'l drink ſo deep as theſe gaping thirſtie Souls? When ever the King ſits at table, and cauſes the ſpikenard to ſend forth a ſweet ſmell, they muſt needs feele the ſavour of his oyntments, who wait as Olive-Plants round about his table, when ever bleſſings are handed out, they are within reach; Oh 'tis a rich mercy to be heereſt mercy.
2. They are fitteſt for Duty. Is there any work to do for God, his Cauſe, his People, they are neer hand, waiting for it, ſaying, What wilt thou have us do Lord? If a word of Command come, 'tis welcome, they are upon their Watch: If the Lord ſay, Come, they come; and if he ſay, Go, they go; their loyns are girt. If the King of glory look out, and cry, Who is on my ſide? who? they are ready to look out of the window towards him,Iſa. 41.2 ſaying, Here are we, Lord. They are called to his foot (as the man of the Eaſt) onelyonly waiting for a word from his mouth: they ſet themſelves in a poſture on purpoſe, to follow the Lamb whitherſoever he goeth. Yea, awakened hearts, whoſe eyes have ſeen the King in his beauty have and holy ambition in them to do as much, and as well in their Maſters ſervice, as he ſhall give them power to do, of his good pleaſure: Whereas the ſlothful ſervant is ever to ſeeke both in will and power, when his Maſter has work for him; he will either ſlip out of the way or ſleep at work. If Jeſus Chriſt call oth' ſudden, and have any haſte of work, hee's all ungirt, and will be ſo long a getting ready, till the buſineſſe might be half done: But the vigilant diligent ſervant, is at an houres warning; he is the veſſel unto honour, meet for the Maſters uſe and prepared for every good work.
3. They are like to be richeſt in experience; this muſt needs be men of great obſervation, whoſe eyes are ever open to behold the gracious and glorious goings of God in Providences and Ordinances; He will make moſt of his glory and goodneſſe to paſse before thoſe, that watch and wait according to his appointment,Exod. 3 3.19.22. (as Moſes upon the Rock.) They'l meet with many choiſe pledges of divine love, many drops of myrrhe from Chriſts fingers, and Kiſſes from his lips, that watch at his feet; his ſteps will drop fatneſſe upon ſuch as lie in his way, waiting for him; Hee'l lay up much of his Heavenly treaſure in holy awakned hearts, and reveale moſt of his ſecrets to his hearkening, hidden ones;Math. 13.52. The watchfull, faithfull Stewards will have out of thier treaſure to bring forth, new and old; they'l have all manner of pleaſant fruits laid up at their gates for the Beloved;Cant. 7.13. they will be able to give the beſt account, what God does for their Souls, who watch their own hearts beſt and wait moſt for him there; He will be much with them, whom he finds much at home, and make out much of himſelf to them; Watchfull Iſraelites will be the beſt provided of hidden Mannah, they'l be before-hand with all others, in reſpect of the moſt experience, and beſt intelligence, from Heaven.
4. They are readieſt for the appearance of Chriſt. If he come, at morning, or evening, mid-day or mid-night, at what watch ſoever he comes, they are watching; yea when they ſleep, their heart waketh;Cant. 5.2. they are readie to goe forth to meet the bridgroome,Math. 25.6 ſhould he call at midnight; and his ſalvation will be moſt welcom, where it has been moſt waited for; What an happie and heavenly poſture was good old Simeon in,Luk. 2.25.26.27.28. to meet Chriſt in the Temple, who had ſo long waited in the Spirit for the conſolation of Iſrael, how ready was he, to receive that bleſſed Child with open armes and heart too? where was Chriſt more welcom, then to little Zachaeus, Luk 19.3.4 5.who was got upon this Watch-Tower (the Sycamor-Tree) deſiring to ſee him, how ſweetly was Chriſts heart affected towards this poore waiting Soul? he looks up with a loving eye, to ſatisfie his longing looks; and how happie doth this good man think himſelf in ſo bleſſed a gueſt; he received him joyfully.Math. 24.28 Oh how readie will the quick-ſighted Eagles be to gather about him, whoſe eyes are ever looking towards this riſing Sun? Behold I come quickly, ſaith he: Amen; ſay they,Rev. 22.20. Even ſo, come Lord Jeſus. Obſerve, how ſweetly that lovely word (Amen) is couched betwixt them, and their hearts together in it!
Uſe of Examination.
Let us give our Souls a viſit in the Name of the Lord, and commune ſecretly and ſeriouſly with our own hearts about our Spiritual Watch.