A Warning Piece for the Slumbering Virgins, Errata
Errata.
PAge 9. line 3. read Spirit, for, ſpirits. p. 13. l. 1. r. heart-duty, for hearty-duty. p. 21. l. 8. r. her, for his. l. 12. about, for abou. p. 23. ult. work, for worth. p. 50. l. 3. r. work, for prophecy. p. 55. l. ult. they, for this. p. 65. l. 16. as, for at. p. 71. Gen. 28. for 18. p. 72. l. 4. fear, for hear. p. 79. l 7. you, for theſe. line 9. your, for their. p. 86 l. 12 fully, for full. p. 87 l. 13 It's, for Jobs. p. 93 l. 1. as, for us. line 9. God, for Gods. p. 115 Prov. 19. for 14. leaſt, for laſt. p. 138 line 1. tow, for bow. p. 142 l. 11. with, whoſe lips had, for, with thoſe lips that. p. 143 line ult. and you, for, and put. p. 145 line 4. reſt, for coaſt. p. 152. the better: could, for, the better could. p. 153. Prov. 23.34. for, Prov. 7.23. p. 155. l. 8. Can you, for Yea can. p. 164 l. 15. multiformity, for multifariety. p. 165. l. 23. and by ſwallowing, for, ſwallowing. p. 172. l. 16. as this, as they waited, for, as thus waited.
A Warning-Piece FOR THE Slumbring Virgins.
Matth. 26.41.
Watch and Pray, that ye enter not into temptation.
IN the 37th verſe of this Chapter, we find, Jeſus took Peter, and the two Sons of Zebedee, and began to be ſorrowfull, Math. 17.1.2.&c: They that had ſeen his glory in the Mount, when his Countenance ſhined as the Sun, &c: muſt now ſee him under a Cloude, his glory vailed; they beheld him in his Triumph, and muſt ſee him in his trouble. 'Tis Chriſts familiar way to be before-hand with his ſuffering Servants, to give them ſome hearty draughts, of the Cup of conſolation, before he put into their hands the Cup of trembling; And 'tis a ſweet heart-taking method, well-becoming our tender-hearted Phyſitian, who loves to be preventing his poore ones with tender mercies, ſo preparing them for ſufferings for him, by declareing his lovelineſſe and love to them.
In the 40th verſe:Verſ. 38 Chriſt finds his Diſciples aſleep, when he had newly called upon them to watch (ſo apt are we to ſleep under awakning teachings) when he was heavie and ſorrowfull even to the death, how heavie were their eyes? how heartleſſe they at ſuch a time, even as dead men? they cannot watch with him, or for him,Verſ. 40. when his enemies were watching to take him. Ah poore helpleſſe, Spirit-leſſe friends to him, who had ſo befriended them; His own diſciples have leaſt care to watch, when greateſt cauſe to watch; now was their time if ever to watch, when he ſo awakened, and now they let their watchfall What, not watch with me one houre? Is it come to this? no better Souldiers under ſo good a Captain? what, deale ſo ill with mee, who have dealt ſo well with you? Yea, not watch with me one houre, who have watched ſo long over you for good? And now the houre is come too? If not for mee, yet for your ſelves for when the Shepherd is ſmitten, the Sheep will be ſcattered; But no warning will keepe them awake when the heart's aſleepe; he comes once, and againe, yea the third time and finds them ſleeping (thus the ſleepie evill growes upon us) we are uſually moſt ſecure, when leaſt ſafe, and heavieſt with ſleep, under heavieſt awakning providences.
In the Text, we have Chriſts faithfull watch-word, or friendly alarme to his ſlumbring Diſciples; where obſerve.
1. A double duty commanded.
2. A double reaſon commended.
1. A double duty commanded, watch and pray; an excellent preſent remedie againſt ſpirituall ſecurity; A word in ſeaſon; an happie conjunction, a bleſſed paire, joyned together by Chriſt himſelf, let no man put them aſunder: watching without prayer will be helpleſſe; and prayer without watching will be heartleſſe; but both together, heartfull and helpfull; Prayer without watching will never awaken us; and watching without prayer, will never awaken the Lord, to watch over us for good; but both togeather will bring in many awakening, quickning, and comforting viſits betwixt God and our Souls: watching in prayer makes it a good watch, and prayer in watching makes all things work for good.
2. A double reaſon commended, Leſt ye enter into temptation: The Spirit indeed, &c.
1. Ye are expoſed to temptation.
2. Ye are indiſpoſed to oppoſition.
1. Yee are expoſed to temptation, if you do not watch and pray, you tempt the Lord to lead you into temptation, and leave you there; you tempt the tempter to tempt you, if you do not watch and pray, he'l watch to make a prey of you; And you tempt your ſelves, you lie neereſt to and faireſt for temptations, when you are fartheſt from watchfull ſupplication. 1. You cloſe with temptations, you are in the mid'ſt of them before you be aware; if you watch not to ſhut the doore againſt them, you open the doore to them, there will be temptations upon you within and without, and you will be within them; while you lie ſleepie and prayerleſſe upon a bed of eaſe, you even lay a Cuſhion for Satan to lie down by you; you enter into temptation, and temptations will enter into you. 2. Temptations will encloſe you, you'l not know how to get out, when once in; you are in danger to be loſt i'th croud; you may be eaſily enſnared, but not ſo eaſily enlarged; 'tis hard getting out of the Devills labyrinth.
2. Ye are indiſpoſed to oppoſition; the fleſh is weak, and your temptations ſtrong, here obſerve,
1. Chriſts candid conceſſion; the Spirit, &c.
2. His cleare conviction; the fleſh, &c.
1. His Conceſſion; the Spirit is willing; your heart is good, though your hand be ſhort; theres ſinceritie in you, though you want abilitie: Chriſt cannot find in his heart to break the bruiſed reed, the broken heart; he owns their willingneſſe with a good will, though much weakneſſe in them; 'tmay do one good at heart to ſee, how his heart was upon their hearts, when their heads were heavie; how ſweetly his Spirit ſympathizeth with their Spirits; 'tis like himſelf; the Spirit is willing (ſaith he).
2. His Conviction; the fleſh is weak; Chriſt is willing to overlook their infirmities, but will have them look upon them; they muſt not indulge themſelves; for his indulgencie towards them; Here's Counſel implyed, to take care of their Spirits, that they may be quickned, cheriſhed, and ſtrengthened by his Spirit, who helps to will and do of his good pleaſure, that to will may be preſent with them and to perform too.
And here's Caution intimated, to take heed to the fleſh, to keep them humble, and ſenſible of their weakneſſe, that he might perfect his ſtrength in weakneſſe.
I ſhall ſumme up all under this one word, and 'tis Chriſts own; Watch, Oh that he would own it, and follow it home to our hearts by his Spirits, that we may own it for his ſake.
Obſ. 'Tis an Evangelical Duty to Watch.
This is wiſdoms own Counſel, and muſt be her Childrens care; The Captain of our ſalvation, gives this word to his Souldiers, to awaken them to work out their ſalvation, &c: Now Souldiers upon pain of death, muſt be at a word of command: The watchfull Shepherd of Souls calls upon his ſheep to watch, and his voyce they moſt heare; How oft is this hammer lift up, to knock at the everlaſting doors of our hearts, even by the King of glory himſelf? Ten times at the leaſt, we have this word expreſſed by the Evangeliſts, from Chriſts own Mouth: How apt are we to ſleep on both eares, that he muſt cry ſo hard, and call ſo oft upon us, ſaying, Watch, watch, watch, &c: how hardly are we awakened; what a dead ſleep is upon us; that there muſt be ſuch crying, jogging, knocking, &c? How dangerous is carnal ſecurity, that Chriſt ſhould ſo importunately warn us, and affectionatly watch over us, as to this ſpiritual duty of watching; there muſt needs be much in it, when hee's ſo much upon it; and ſure, watching well, will tend greatly to our beſt welfare and happineſſe, ſeeing our good Lord and Maſter makes it ſo much our buſineſſe.