Sermons on Various Subjects Volume 1, Sermon 9
SERMON IX.
The wiſe and fooliſh Virgins.
MATTH. XXV. 14.
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the Day nor the Hour in which the Son of Man cometh.
THE Apoſtle St. Paul in his Epiſtle to the Hebrews, informs us, That it is appointed for all Men once to die; after that, ſays he, comes Judgment.—And I think if any Conſideration be ſufficient to awaken a ſleeping drowſy World, it muſt be this.—That there will be a Day wherein theſe Heavens ſhall be wrapt up like a Scrowl, this Element melt with fervent Heat, the Earth and all the Things therein be burnt up, and every Soul, and every Nation and Language ſummoned to appear before the dreadful Tribunal of the righteous Judge of Quick and Dead, to receive Rewards and Puniſhments according to the Deeds done in their Bodies.—The great Apoſtle juſt mentioned, when brought before Felix, could think of … better Means to convert that ſinful Man, than …o reaſon of Temperance, Righteouſneſs, and more eſpecially of a Judgment to come.—The firſt might in ſome Meaſure affect, but I am perſuaded it was the laſt Conſideration, I mean of a Judgment to come, that made him tremble; and ſo bad as the World is grown, yet there are few have their Conſciences ſo far ſeared, as with a red hot Iron, as to deny that there will be a Reckoning hereafter. The promiſcuous Diſpenſations of Providence in this Life, wherein we ſee good Men afflicted, deſtitute, tormented, and the Wicked permitted triumphantly to ride over their Heads, has been always looked upon as an indiſputable Argument, by the Generality of Men, that there will be a Day in which GOD will judge the World in Righteouſneſs, and adminiſter true Equity unto his People.—Some indeed are ſo bold as to deny it, while they are engaged in the Purſuit of the Luſt of the Eye, and the Pride of Life.—But follow them to their Death-Beds, ask them, when their Souls are ready to launch into Eternity, what they then think of a Judgment to come? and … will tell you they dare not give their Conſcien… the Lie any longer.—They feel a fearful Looking for of Judgment and fiery Indignation in their Hearts.—Since then theſe Things are ſo, does it not highly concern each of us, my Brethren, before we come on a Bed of Sickneſs, ſeriouſly to examine how the Account ſtands between GOD and our Souls, and how it will fare with us … Day? As for the openly Prophane, the Drunkard, the Whoremonger, the Adulterer, and ſuch like, there's no Doubt of what will become of them,—without Repentance they ſhall never enter into the Kingdom of GOD, and his CHRIST: No; their Damnation ſlumbereth not; a burning fiery Tophet, kindled by the Fury of GOD's eternal Wrath, is prepared for their Reception, wherein they muſt ſuffer the Vengeance of an eternal Fire.—Nor is there the leaſt Doubt of the State of true Believers.—For tho' they be deſpiſed and rejected of natural Men, yet being born again of GOD, they are Heirs of GOD, and joint Heirs with CHRIST.—They have the Earneſt of the promiſed Inheritance in their Hearts, and are aſſured, that a new and living Way is made open for them, into the Holy of Holies, by the Blood of JESUS CHRIST, through which an abundant Entrance ſhall be adminiſtred to them at the great Day of Accounts. The only Queſtion is, What will become of the almoſt Chriſtian, one that is content to go, as he thinks, in a middle Way to Heaven, without being prophane on the one Hand, or, as he falſly imagined, righteous overmuch on the other?—Multitudes there are in every Congregation, and conſequently here preſent, of this ſtamp.—And what is worſt of all, it's more eaſy to convince the moſt notorious Publicans and Sinners of their being out of a State of Salvation, than any of theſe.—Notwithſtanding, if JESUS CHRIST may be our Judge, they ſhall as certainly be rejected and diſowned by him at the laſt Day, as tho' they lived in open Defiance of all his Laws.—For what ſays our LORD in the Parable of which the Words of the Text are a Reddition or Concluſion, and which I intend to make the Subject of my preſent Diſcourſe.—Then, that is, at the Day of the Judgment, which he had been diſcourſing of in the foregoing, and proſecutes in this Chapter, ſhall the Kingdom of Heaven, i. e. the State of Profeſſors in the Goſpel Church, be likened unto Ten Virgins, which took their Lamps and went forth to meet the Bridegroom. In which Words is a manifeſt Alluſion to a Cuſtom prevailing in our LORD's Time among the Jews, at Marriage Solemnities, which were generally at Night, and at which it was cuſtomary for the Perſons of the Bride-Chamber to go out in Proceſſion, with many Lights to meet the Bridegroom.—By the Bridegroom then here ſpoken of, you are to underſtand JESUS CHRIST.—The Church, i. e. True Believers, are his Spouſe,—he is united to them by one Spirit even in this Life; but the Solemnizing of theſe ſacred Nuptials is reſerved till the Day of Judgment, when he ſhall come to take them home to himſelf, and preſent them before Men and Angels, as his Purchaſe, to his Father, without Spot or Wrinkle, or any ſuch Thing.—By the Ten Virgins we are to underſtand the Profeſſors of Chriſtianity in general.—All are called Virgins, becauſe all are called to be Saints. Whoſoever names the Name of CHRIST, is obliged by that very Profeſſion to depart from all Iniquity. The pure and chaſte in Heart are the only Perſons that will be ſo bleſſed as to ſee GOD.—As CHRIST was born of a Virgin's Womb, ſo he can dwell in none but Virgin Souls, made pure and holy by the Cohabitation of his Holy Spirit. But what ſays the Apoſtle? All are not Iſraelites that are of Iſrael,—All are not Chriſtians that are called after the Name of CHRIST:—No, ſays our LORD, in the 2d v. Five of thoſe Virgins were wiſe, i. e. True Believers, and five were fooliſh, i. e. Formal Hypocrites. But why are five ſaid to be wiſe, and the other five ſcoliſh?—Hear what our LORD ſays in the following Verſes, They that were fooliſh took their Lamps and took no Oil with them: But the wiſe took Oil in their Veſſels with their Lamps. They that were fooliſh took …eir Lamps, i. e. the Lamp of an outward Profeſſion. They would go to Church, ſay over ſeveral Manuals of Prayers, come perhaps into a Field to hear a Sermon, give at a Collection, and receive the Sacrament conſtantly, nay, of…ner than once a Month.—But then here lay the Miſ…e, they had … in their Lamps,—no true Principle or …, no living Faith in their Hearts, without which tho' we ſhould give all our Goods to feed the Poor, and our Bodies to be burnt, it would pr…t us nothing. In ſhort, they were exact, nay perhaps ſuperſtitious Bigots as to the Form, bat all the while they were Strangers to, and, in effect, denied the Power of Godlineſs in their Hearts. They would go to Church, but at the ſame Time, think it no harm to go to a Bail or an Aſſembly, notwithſtanding they promiſed at their Paptiſm, to renounce the Pomps and Vanities of this wicked World.—They were ſo exceeding fearful of being righte… overmuch, that they would even perſecute thoſe that were truly devout, if they attempted to go a Step farther than themſelves. In one Word, they never effectually felt the Power of the World to come. They thought they might be Chriſtians without ſo much inward Feeling … therefore, notwithſtanding their high … had only a Name to live.
And now, Sirs, let me pauſe a while, and in the Name of GOD, whom I endeavour to ſerve in the Goſpel of his dear Son, give me … ask one Queſtion. Whilſt I have been draw… tho' in Miniature, the Character of th… fooliſh Virgins, have not many of your Conſciences made the Application, and with a ſmall, ſtill, tho' articulate Voice, ſaid, Thou Man, thou Woman, art one of thoſe fooliſh Virgins, f…r thy Practice and Sentiments agreeth thereto? Do not ſtifle, but encourage theſe Convictions; and who knows but that LORD, who is rich … Mercy to all that call upon him faithfully, may ſo work upon you even by this Fooliſhneſs of Preaching, as to make you wiſe Virgins before you return home?
What they were you ſhall know immediately; But the wiſe, ſays our LORD, ver. 4. …ook Oil in their Veſſels with their Lamps.— Obſerve, the wiſe, that is, the true Believers, had their Lamps as well as the fooliſh Virgins; for Chriſtianity does … require us to caſt off all outward Forms. We may uſe Forms and yet not be formal: For Inſtance, it is poſſible to worſhip GOD in a ſet Form of Prayer, and yet worſhip him in Spirit and in Truth. And therefore, Brethren, let us not judge one another. The wiſe Virgins had their Lamps; herein did not lie the Difference between them and the fooliſh, that one worſhipped GOD with a Form and the other did not: No; as the Phariſee and Publican went up to the Temple to pray, ſo theſe wiſe and fooliſh Virgins might go to the ſame Place of Worſhip, and ſit under the ſame Miniſtry; but then the wiſe took Oil in their Veſſels with their Lamps; they kept up the Form, but did not reſt in it; their Words in Prayer were the Language of their Hearts, and they were no Strangers to inward Feelings; they were not a…a…d of ſearching Doctrine, nor affronted when Miniſters told them they deſerve to be damned; they were not ſelf-righteous, but were willing that JESUS CHRIST ſhould have all the Glory of their Salvation; they were convinced that the Merits of JESUS CHRIST were to be apprehended only by Faith, but yet were they as careful to maintain good Works, as tho' they were to be juſtified by them: In ſhort, their Obedience flowed from Love and Gratitude, and wa… chearful, conſtant, uniform, univerſal, like that Obedience which the Holy Angels pay our Father in Heaven.
Here then let me exhort you to pauſe again; and if any of you can faithfully apply theſe Characters to your Hearts, give GOD the Glory, and take the Comfort to your own Souls; you are not falſe but true Believers. JESUS CHRIST has been made of GOD to you Wiſdom, even that Wiſdom, whereby you ſhall be made wiſe unto Salvation. GOD ſees a Difference between you and fooliſh Virgins, if natural Men will not. You need not be uneaſy if one Chance and Fate in this Life may happen to you both. I ſay, one Chance and Fate; for ver. …. while the Bridegroom tarried, i. e. in the intermediate Space of Time which paſſed between our LORD's Aſcenſion and his coming again to Judgment, they all ſlumbered and ſlept. The wiſe as well as fooliſh died, for Duſt we are, and to Duſt we muſt return. It's no Reflection at all upon the Divine Goodneſ…, that Believers, as well as Hypocrites, muſt paſs thro' the Valley of the Shadow of Death; for CHRIST has taken the Sting out of it, ſo that we need fear no Evil. It is to them a Paſſage to everlaſting Life. Death is only terrible to thoſe that have no Hope, becauſe they live without Faith in the World. Whoſoever there are amongſt you, that have received the Firſt-… of the Spirit, I am perſuaded you are ready to cry out with holy Job, We would not live here always, … long to be diſſolved, that we may be with JESUS CHRIST; and tho' Worms muſt deſtroy our Bodies as well as others, yet we are content, being aſſured that our Redeemer liveth, that he will ſtand at the latter Days upon the Earth, and that in our Fleſh we ſhall ſee GOD.
But it is not ſo with Hypocrites and Unbelievers beyond the Grave; for what ſays our LORD? And at Midnight; obſerve, at Midnight, night, when all was huſh'd and quiet, and no one dreaming any ſuch Thing, a Cry was made; The Voice of the Arch-Angel and the Trump of GOD was heard ſounding this general Alarm, To Things in Heaven, to Things in Earth, and to Things in the Waters under the Earth, BEHOLD—mark how this awful Summons is uſher'd in with the Word BEHOLD—to engage our Attention; Behold the Bridegroom cometh! even JESUS CHRIST, the Deſire of Nations, the Bridegroom of his Spouſe the Church! Becauſe he tarried for a while to exerciſe the Faith of Saints, and give Sinners Space to repent, Scoffers were apt to cry out, Where is the Promiſe of his coming? But the LORD is not ſlack concerning his Promiſe, as theſe Men … ſlackneſs—For Behold he that was to come now cometh, and will not tarry any longer: He cometh to be glorified in his Saints, and to take Vengeance on them that know not GOD, and have not obeyed his Goſpel: He cometh not as a poor deſpiſed Galilean; not to be ſtabled in a ſtinking Manger; not to be deſpiſed and rejected of Men; not to be blindfolded, ſpit upon, and buffeted; not to be nailed to an accurſed Tree; not as the Son of Man, but as he really was the eternal Son of an eternal GOD: He cometh riding on the Wings of the Wind in the Glory of the Father and his Holy Angels, and to be had in everlaſting Reverence of all that ſhall be round about him.—Go ye forth to meet him—ariſe, ye Dead, ye fooliſh as well as wiſe Virgins, ariſe and come to Judgment. Multitudes no doubt, that heard th… awakening Cry, would have rejoiced if the Rocks might fall on, and the Hills cover them from the Preſence of the LAMB: What would they give, if as they lived as Beaſts, they might now die like Beaſts that periſh? How would they rejoice if thoſe ſame Excuſes which they had made on this ſide Eternity for not attending on Holy Ordinances, would now ſerve to keep them from appearing before the heavenly Bridegroom! But as Adam notwithſtanding his Fig Leaves, and the Trees of the Garden, could not hide himſelf from GOD, when arreſted with an—Adam, where art thou? So now, the Decree is gone forth, and the Trump of GOD has given its laſt Sound, all Tongues, People, Nations and Languages, both wiſe and fooliſh Virgins muſt come into his Preſence, and bow beneath his Foot-ſtool; even Pontius Pilate, Annas and Caiaphas; even the proud perſecuting High-Prieſts and Phariſees of this Generation, muſt now appear before him: For ſays our LORD, then, i. e. when the Cry was made, Behold, the Bridegroom … in a Moment, in the twinkling of an Eye, the Graves were opened, the Sea gave up its … all thoſe Virgins, both wiſe and fooliſh, ar… and trimmed their Lamps, i. e. endeavoured to put themſelves in a proper Poſture to meet the Bridegroom.
But how may we imagine the fooliſh Virgins were ſurpriſed, when notwithſtanding their high Thoughts and proud Imaginations of their Security, they now find themſelves wholly naked and void of that Inward Holineſs and Purity of Heart, without which no Man living at that Day ſhall comfortably meet the LORD! I doubt not, but many theſe fooliſh Virgins whilſt in this World, were cloathed in Purple and fine Linnen, fared ſumptuouſly every Day, and would diſdain to ſet the wiſe Virgins, ſome of which might be as poor as Lazarus, even with the Dogs of their Flock. Theſe were looked upon by them as Enthuſiaſts and Madmen, as Perſons that were Righteous overmuch, and who intended to turn the World upſide down: But now Death hath opened their Eyes, and convinced them to their Eternal Sorrow, that he is not a true Chriſtian who is only one outwardly. Now they find (tho' alas! too late) they, and not the wiſe Virgins, had been beſide themſelves. Now their proud Hearts are made to ſtoop, their lofty Looks are brought low; and as Dives entreated that Lazarus might dip the Tip of his Finger in Water, and be ſent to cool his Tongue, ſo theſe fooliſh Virgins, theſe formal Hypocrites, are obliged to turn Beggars to thoſe whom they once deſpiſed—Give us of your Oil—Oh! impart to us a little of that Grace and Holy Spirit, for the inſiſting on which we Fools accounted your Lives Madneſs; for alas! our Lamps are gone out—we had only the Form of Godlineſs—we were whited Sepulchers—we were Heart-Hypocrites—we contented ourſelves with deſiring to be good, and tho' confident of Salvation whilſt we lived, yet our Hope is entirely gone now GOD has taken away our Souls; give us therefore, Oh! give us, tho' we once deſpiſed you, give us of your Oil, for our Lamps of an outward Proſeſſion, tranſient Convictions, are quite gone out.
Comfort ye, comfort ye, my People, ſaith the LORD, with this.—My Brethren in CHRIST, hear what the fooliſh ſay to the wiſe Virgins, and learn in Patience to poſſeſs your Souls. If you are true Followers of the lowly JESUS, I am perſuaded you have your Names caſt out, and all manner of Evil ſpoken againſt you, for his Name-Sake; for … one ever did or will live godly in CHRIST JESUS, without ſuffering Perſecution; nay, I doubt not, but your chief Foes are thoſe of your own Houſhold: Tell me, do not your carnal Relations and Friends vex your tender Souls Day by Day, in bidding you ſpare yourſelves, and take heed leſt you go too far: And as you paſſed along to come and hear the Word of GOD, have you not heard many a Phariſee cry out, Here comes another Troop of his Followers! Brethren, be not ſurpriſed, CHRIST'S Servants were always the World's Fools; you know it hated him before it hated you. Rejoice and be exceeding glad. Yet a little while and Behold the Bridegroom cometh, and then ſhall you hear theſe formal ſcoffing Phariſees ſaying unto you, Give us of your Oil, for our Lamps are gone out. When you are reviled, revile not again: When you ſuffer, threaten not; commit your Souls into the Hands of him that judgeth righteouſly… For behold the Day cometh when the Children of GOD ſhall ſpeak for themſelves.
The wiſe Virgins, in the Parable, no doubt endured the ſame cruel Mockings as you may do; but as the Lamb before the Shearers is Dumb, ſo in this Life opened they not they their Mouths; but now we find they can give their Enemies an Anſwer: Not ſo, leſt there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that ſell, and buy for yourſelves. Theſe Words are not to be underſtood as tho' they were ſpoken in an inſulting Manner; for true Charity teaches us to uſe the worſt of Sinners, and our moſt bitter Enemies, with the Meekneſs and Gentleneſs of CHRIST: Tho' Dives was in Hell, yet Abraham does not ſay, Thou Villain, but only Son remember: And I am perſuaded, had it been in the Power of theſe wiſe Virgins, they would have dealt with the fooliſh Virgins, as, GOD knows, I would willingly deal with my moſt inveterate Enemies, not only give them of their Oil, but alſo exalt them to the Right Hand of GOD.—It was not then for want of Love, but for fear of wanting a ſufficiency for themſelves, that made them return this anſwer, Not ſo, leſt there be not enough for us and you: For they that have moſt Grace have none to ſpare; none but ſelf-righteous, fooliſh Virgins think they are good enough, or have already attained.—Thoſe who are truly wiſe are always moſt diſtruſtful of themſelves, preſſing forwards to the Things that are before, and think it well if after they have done all, they can make their Calling and Election ſure—Not ſo, leſt there be not enough for us and you; But go ye rather to them that ſell, and buy for your ſelves: Theſe Words indeed ſeem to be ſpoken in a triumphant, but certainly they were utter'd in the moſt compaſſionate Manner, go ye to them that ſell and buy for yourſelves:—Unhappy Virgins! you accounted our Lives Folly. Whilſt with you in the Body, how often have you condemned us for our Zeal in running to hear the Word, and looked upon us as Enthuſiaſts, for talking about and affirming, that we muſt be led by the Spirit, and walk by the Spirit, and feel the Spirit of GOD witneſſing with our Spirits, that we are … Children? But now you would be glad to be Partakers of this Privilege, but it is not ours to give. You contented yourſelves with ſeeking when you ſhould have been ſtriving to enter in at the ſtrait Gate.—And now go to them that ſell, if you can, and buy for yourſelves.
And what ſay you to this, ye fooliſh formal Profeſſors? For I doubt not but Curioſity and Novelty hath brought many ſuch, even to this deſpiſed Place, to hear a Sermon. Can you hear this Reply to the fooliſh Virgins, and yet not tremble? Why, yet a little while, and thus it ſhall be done to you. Rejoice and bolſter yourſelves up in your Duties and Forms; endeavour to cover your Nakedneſs with the Fig Leaves of an outward Profeſſion and a legal Righteouſneſs, and deſpiſe the true Servants of CHRIST as much as you pleaſe yet know, that all your Hopes will fail you when GOD brings you into Judgment.For not him who commendeth himſelf is juſtified, but he whom the LORD commendeth.
But to return; we do not hear any Reply the fooliſh Virgins make: No, their Conſciences condemned them; like the Perſon in the Parable without a Wedding-Garment, they are ſtruck dumb, and are now filled with anxious Thoughts how they ſhall buy Oil, that they may lift up their Heads before the Bridegroom. But whilſt they went to buy, v. 10. i. e. whilſt they were thinking what they ſhould do, the Bridegroom, the Lord Jesus, the Head, the King, the Husband of his Spouſe the Church, cometh attended with Thouſands and Twenty times Ten Thouſands of Saints and Angels, publickly to count up his Jewels; and they that were ready,—the wiſe Virgins who had Oil in their Lamps, and were ſealed by his Spirit to the Day of Redemption, theſe having on a Wedding Garment of an imputed Righteouſneſs, and a new Nature, went in with him to the Marriage.
But who can expreſs the Tranſports that theſe wiſe Virgins felt, when they were thus admitted, in a holy Triumph, into the Preſence and full Enjoyment of him whom their Souls hungred and thirſted after! No doubt they had taſted of his Love, and by Faith had often fed on him in …eir Hearts, when ſitting down to commemorate his laſt Supper here on Earth; but how full may we think their Hearts and Tongues were of his Praiſes, when they ſee themſelves ſit down together to eat Bread in his Heavenly Kingdom! And what was beſt of all, the Door was ſhut, and ſhut them in, to enjoy the ever bleſſed GOD and the Company of Angels and the Spirits of juſt Men made perfect, without Interruption for evermore. I ſay, without Interruption; for in this Life, their Eyes often guſhed out with Water becauſe Men kept not GOD's Law; and they could never come to appear before the LORD, or to hear his Word, but Satan and his Emiſſaries would come alſo to diſturb them; but now the Door is ſhut, now there is a perfect Communion of Saints, which they in vain longed for in this lower World; now Tares no longer grow up with the Wheat; not one ſingle Hypocrite or Unbeliever can skreen himhimſelf amongſt them.—Now the wicked ceaſe from troubling, and now their weary Souls enjoy an everlaſting Reſt.
Once more, O Believers let me exhort you in Patience to poſſeſs your Souls. GOD if he has freely juſtified you by Faith in his Son, and given you his Spirit, has ſealed you to be his; and has ſecured you as ſurely as he ſecured Noah when he locked him in the Ark. But though Heirs of GOD, and joint Heirs with CHRIST, and neither Men or Devils can pluck you out of your heavenly Father's Hands, yet you muſt be toſſed about with manifold Temptations; but lift up your Heads, the Day of your perfect compleat Redemption draweth nigh.—Behold the Bridegroom cometh to take you to himſelf, the Door ſhall be ſhut, and you ſhall be forever with the LORD.
But I even tremble to tell you, O nominal Chriſtians, that the Door will be ſhut, I mean the Door of Mercy, never, never to be opened to give you Admiſſion, tho' you ſhould continue knocking to all Eternity. For thus ſpeaks our LORD, v. 11. Afterwards, i. e. after thoſe that were ready had went in, and the Door was ſhut; after they had to their Sorrow found that no Oil was to be bought, no Grace to be procured, came alſo the other Virgins; and, as Eſ…u after Jacob had got the Bleſſing, cried with an exceeding bitter Cry, bleſ… me, even me alſo, Oh my Father; ſo they came ſaying, LORD, LORD, open to us.—Obſerve the Importunity of theſe fooliſh Virgins, implied in theſe Words, LORD, LORD.—Whilſt in the Body, I ſuppoſe they only read, but did not pray over their Prayers: If you would tell them, they ſhould Pray without ceaſing, they ſhould pray from their Hearts, and feel the Want of what they prayed for; they would anſwer, They could not tell what you mean by inward Feelings; that GOD did not require us to be always on our Knees, but if a Man did juſtly, and loved Mercy, and did as the Church Forms required him, it was as much as the LORD required at his Hands.
I fear, Sirs, too many amongſt us, are of this Mind. Nay, I fear there are many ſo polite, ſo void of the Love of GOD, as to think it too great a Piece of Self-Denial, to riſe early to offer up a Sacrifice of Praiſe and Thankſgiving acceptable to GOD thro' JESUS CHRIST. If any ſuch by the good Providence of GOD, are brought hither this Morning, I beſeech you conſider your Ways, and remember, if you are not awakened out of your Spiritual Lethargy, and live a Life of Prayer here, you ſhall in vain cry out with the fooliſh Virgins, LORD, LORD, open unto us, hereafter.—Obſerve, further, the Impudence, as well as Importunity of theſe other Virgins; LORD, LORD, ſay they,—as tho' they were intimately acquainted with the Holy JESUS. Like Numbers amongſt us, who becauſe they go to Church, repeat their Creeds, and receive the bleſſed Sacrame… … they have a Right to call JESUS the… …, and dare call GOD their Father … they put up the Lord's Prayer. But JESUS is not your Saviour. The Devil, not GOD, is your Father, unleſs your Hearts are purified by Faith, and you are born again from above. It's not merely being baptized by Water, but being born again of the Holy Ghoſt that muſt qualify you for Salvation; and it will do you no Service at the great Day, to ſay unto CHRIST, LORD, my Name is in the Regiſter of ſuch and ſuch a Pariſh.—I am perſuaded the fooliſh Virgins could ſay this and more; but what Anſwer did JESUS make? He anſwered and ſaid, v. 12. Verily, I ſay unto you: He puts the Word VERILY, to aſſure them he was in earneſt.—I ſay unto you,—I who am Truth itſelf,—I whom you have owned in Words, but in Works denied, VERILY, I ſay unto you, I know you …. Theſe Words muſt not be underſtood literally; for whatever Arians and Socinians may ſay to the contrary, yet we affirm that JESUS CHRIST is GOD, GOD bleſſed forever, and therefore knoweth all Things. He ſaw Nathaniel when under the Fig-Tree: He ſees and is now looking down from Heaven his Dwelling-Place, upon us, to ſee how we behave in theſe Fields.—Brethren, I know nothing of the Thoughts and Intents of your Hearts, in coming hither; but JESUS CHRIST he knows who come like new-born Babes, deſirous to be fed with the ſincere Milk of the Word. And he knows who came to hear what the Babler ſays, and to run away with part of a broken Sentence, that they may have whereof to accuſe him.—This Expreſſion then, I know you not, muſt not be underſtood literally; No, it implies a Knowledge of Approbation, as tho' CHRIST had ſaid, you call me LORD, LORD, but you have not done the Things that I have ſaid; you deſire me to open the Door, but how can you come in hither not having on a Wedding Garment? Alas, you are naked as you came into the World! where is my outward Righteouſneſs imputed to you? Where is my inherent Righteouſneſs wrought in you? Where is my Divine Image ſtamped upon your Souls? How dare you call me LORD, LORD, when you have not received the Holy Ghoſt, whereby I ſeal all that are truly mine? Verily, I know you not, depart from me, ye Curſed, into everlaſting Fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels.
And now he that hath Ears to hear, let him hear what Manner of Perſons theſe were, whom JESUS CHRIST diſmiſſed with this Anſwer.— Remember, I entreat you, remember they are not ſent away for being Fornicators, Swea…ers, Sabbath-breakers, or Prodigals. No, in all Probability, as I obſerv'd before, they were, touching the outward Obſervances of the Mo…l Law, blameleſs;—they were conſtant as to the Form of Religion; and if they did no good, yet no one could ſay, they did any one any harm. The only Thing for which they were condemned and eternally baniſhed from the Preſence of the LORD (for ſo much is implied in that Sentence I know you not) was this, they had no Oil in their Lamps; no Principle of a true living Faith, and Holineſs in their Hearts.—And If Perſons may go to Church, receive the Sacrament, lead honeſt moral Lives, and yet be ſent to Hell at the laſt Day, as they certainly will be if they advance no further, Where wilt thou, O Drunkard? Where wilt thou, O Swearer? Where wilt thou, O Sabbath-Breaker? Where wilt thou that denieſt Divine Revelation, and even the Form of Godlineſs? Where wilt thou and ſuch like Sinners appear? I know very well where.—You muſt appear before the dreadful Tribunal of JESUS CHRIST: For however you may, like Felix, put off the Proſecution of your Convictions, yet you as well as others, muſt ariſe after Death, and appear in Judgment: You will then find to your eternal Sorrow, what I juſt hinted at in the Beginning of this Diſcourſe, viz. that your Damnation ſlumbereth not: Sin has blinded your Hearts, and hardned your Foreheads now, but yet a little while and our LORD will eaſe him of his Adverſaries.—Methinks already, by Faith, I ſee the Heavens opened, and the Holy JESUS coming, with his Face brighter than Ten Thouſand Suns, darting Fury upon you from his Eyes!—Methinks I ſee you riſing from your Graves trembling and aſtoniſhed, and crying out, Who can abide this Day of his coming!
And now what Inference ſhall I draw from what has been delivered? Our LORD, in the Words of the Text, has drawn one for me, Watch therefore, for ye know neither the Day nor the Hour whe…e…n the Son of Man cometh.
Watch; that is, be upon your Guard, and keep your Graces in continual Exerciſe: For as when we are commanded to watch unto Prayer, it ſignifies that we ſhould continue inſtant in that Duty; ſo when we are required to watch in general, it means that we ſhould put on the whole Armour of GOD, and live every Day as tho' it was our laſt. And Oh! that the LORD, may now enable me to lift up my Voice like a Trumpet! For had I a thouſand Tongues, or could I ſpeak ſo loud that the whole World might hear me, I could not ſound a more uſeful Alarm than that which is contained in the Words of the Text. … therefore, my Brethren, I beſeech you by … Mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, Watch … upon your Guard; Awake, ye that ſleep in … For ye know neither the Day nor the Hour … the Son of Man cometh. Perhaps to Day, perhaps this Midnight, the CRY may be made: For in a Moment, in the twinkling of an Eye, the Trump is to ſound.—However, ſuppoſing the final Day of Judgment may yet be a great way off, yet the Day of Death is certainly near at Hand: For what is our Life? It is but a Vapour▪ it is but a Span long, ſo ſoon paſſeth it away and we are gone. Bleſſed be GOD we are all here well; but who out of this great Multitude dares ſay, I ſhall go home to my Houſe in Safety? Who knows but whilſt I am ſpeaking, GOD may commiſſion his miniſtring Spirits immediately to call ſome of you away by a ſudden Stroke, to give an Account with what Attention you have heard this Sermon. You know my Brethren, ſome ſuch Inſtances we have lately had given us—And what Angel or Spirit hath aſſured us that ſome of you ſhall not be the next? Watch therefore, for ye know neither the Day nor the Hour wherein the Son of Man will come—And it is chiefly for this Reaſon, that GOD has hid the Day of our Deaths from us—For ſince I know not but I may die to me … why, O my Soul, may each of us … thou not watch to Day? Since I … not but I may die the next Moment, w…y wilt thou not prepare for dying this?—Many ſuch Reflections as theſe, my Brethren, croud in upon my Mind. At preſent, bleſſed be the LORD, who delights to magnify his Strength in a poor Worm's Weakneſs, I am at a ſtand, not ſo much about what I ſhall ſay, as what I ſhall leave unſaid—My Belly, like Elihu's, is as it were full of new Wines—out of the abundance of my Heart my Mouth ſpeaketh. The ſeeing ſo great a Multitude ſtanding before me, a Senſe of the infinite Majeſty of that GOD in whoſe Name I preach, and before whom I as well as you muſt appear to give an Account; and the uncertainty there is whether I ſhall live another Day to ſpeak to you any more—Theſe Conſiderations, I ſay, eſpecially the Preſence of GOD, which I now feel upon my Soul, furniſhes me with ſo much Matter, that I ſcarce know where to begin or where to end my Application—however, for Method ſake by the Divine Aſſiſtance, I will branch it into three ſeveral particulars.
And firſt, I would remind you that are notoriouſly ungodly, of what our LORD ſays in the Text: For though I have ſaid that your Damnation ſlumbereth not, whilſt you continue in an impenitent State; yet that was only to ſet you upon your Watch, to convince you of your Danger, and excite you to cry out, What ſhall we do to be ſaved? I appeal to all that hear me, whether I have ſaid the Door of Mercy ſhould be ſhut againſt you if you believe on JESUS CHRIST: No, if you are the chief of Sinners; if you are Murderers of Fathers, Murderers of Mothers; if you are emphatically the Dung and Offscouring of all Things; yet if you believe on JESUS CHRIST and cry unto him with the ſame Faith as the expiring Thief, LORD remember me now thou art in thy Kingdom; I will pawn my eternal Salvation upon it, if he does not ſhortly tranſlate you to this heavenly Paradiſe. Wonder not at my ſpeaking with ſo much Aſſurance: For I know this is a faithful and true Saying, and worthy all Acceptation, that JESUS CHRIST came into the World to ſave all truely convicted and believing Sinners: Nay ſo great is his Love, that I am perſuaded, was it neceſſary, he would come again into the World and die a ſecond Time for them on the Croſs. But bleſſed be GOD, when our LORD bowed down his Head and gave up the Ghoſt, our Redemption was finiſhed. It's not our Sins, but our want of a lively Faith in his Blood, that will prove our Condemnation: If you draw near to him by Faith, tho' ye are the worſt of Sinners, yet he will …t ſay unto you, Verily I know you not—No, a Door of Mercy ſhall be opened to you. Look then, look then, by an Eye of Faith to that GOD-MAN whom ye have pierced—Behold him bleeding, panting, dying upon the Croſs, with Arms ſtretched out ready to embrace you all—Hark! how he groans! See how all Nature is in an Agony! The Rocks rend, the Graves open; the Sun withdraws its Light, aſhamed as it were to ſee the GOD OF NATURE ſuffer; and all this to uſher in Man's great Redemption.—Nay, the HOLY JESUS, in the very Agonies and Pangs of Death, prays for his very Murderers; Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. What then, if you have … the Son of GOD afreſh, and put him to an open Shame, yet do not deſpair, only believe and even this ſhall be forgiven: You have read, at leaſt you have heard, no doubt, how three thouſand were converted at St. Peter's preaching one ſingle Sermon, after our LORD's Aſcenſion into Heaven; and many of the Crucifiers of the LORD OF GLORY undoubtedly were amongſt them, and why ſhould you deſpair? For JESUS CHRIST is the ſame, yeſterday, to Day, and forever. The Holy Ghoſt ſhall be ſent down on you, as well as on them, if you do but believe; for CHRIST aſcended up on High to receive this Gift, even for the vileſt of Men.—Come then, All ye that are weary and heavy laden, with the ſenſe of your Sins, lay hold on CHRIST by Faith, and he will give you Reſt; for Salvation is the free Gift o… GOD to all them that believe. And tho' you may think this too good News to to be true, yet I ſpeak the Truth in CHRIST, I lie not, this is the Goſpel, th… is the glad Tidings which we are commiſſioned to preach to every Creature. Be not faithleſs then, but believing. Let not the Devil lead you captive at his Will any longer; for all the Wages he gives his Servants is Death, Death often in this Life, Death everlaſting in the next: But now the free Gift of GOD is eternal Life to all that believe in JESUS CHRIST—Phariſees are and will be offended at my coming here and offering you Salvation on ſuch cheap Terms—but the more they bid me hold my Peace, the more will I cry out and proclaim to convicted Sinners JESUS, David's Son according to the Fleſh, but David's Lord as he was GOD, will have Mercy upon all that by a living Faith truly turn to him—If this is to …vile, I pray GOD I may be more vile.—If they will not let me preach CHRIST crucified, and offer Salvation to poor Sinners in a Church, I will preach him in the Lanes, Streets, Highways and Hedges; and nothing pleaſes me better than to think I am now in one of the Devils ſtrongeſt Holds—Surely the LORD has not ſent me and all you hither for nothing; no, bleſſed be GOD, the Fields are white ready unto Harveſt, and many Souls I … will be gathered into his heavenly Garner—It's true, it's the Midnight of the Church, eſpecially the poor Church of England; but GOD has lately ſent forth his Servants … cry, Behold the Bridegroom cometh: I beſeech you, Oh Sinners, hearken unto the Voice! Let me eſpouſe you by Faith to my dear Maſter; and henceforward WATCH AND PRAY, that you may be ready to go forth to meet him.
Secondly, I would apply myſelf to thoſe amongſt you that are not openly … by depending on a formal Round of … deceive your own Souls, and are only … Virgins.—But I muſt ſpeak to your Conviction rather than your Comfort. My dear Brethren, do not deceive your own Souls,—You have heard how far the fooliſh Virgins went, and yet were anſwered with a verily I know you not: The Reaſon is, becauſe none but ſuch that have a living Faith in JESUS CHRIST, and are truly born again, can poſſibly enter into the Kingdom of Heaven: You may perhaps live honeſt and outwardly moral Lives, but if you depend on that Morality, or join your Works with your Faith, in order to juſtifie you before GOD, you have no Lot or Share in CHRIST'S Redemption: For what is this but to deny the LORD that has bought you? What is this but making yourſelves your own Saviours?—taking the Crown from JESUS CHRIST, and putting it on your own Heads? The Crime of the Devil ſome have ſuppoſed conſiſted in this, that he would not bow to JESUS CHRIST, when he came into the World as Mediator, and the Father commanded all the Angels to worſhip him; and what do you leſs? You will not own and ſubmit to his Righteouſneſs, and tho' you pretend to worſhip him with your Lips, yet your Hearts are far from him; beſides you in Effect deny the Operations of his bleſſed Spirit, you miſtake common for effectual Grace, you hope to be ſaved becauſe you have good Deſires, and a few ſhort Convictions; and what is this, but to give GOD, his Word, and all his Saints the Lie? A Jew, a Turk, has equally as good Grounds whereon to build his Hopes of Salvation. Need I not then need to cry out to you, Ye fooliſh Virgins, Watch, beg of GOD to convince you of your Self-Righteouſneſs, and the ſecret Unbelief of your Hearts; or otherwiſe whenſoever the CRY ſhall be made, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, you will find yourſelves utterly unprepared to go forth to meet him:—You may cry LORD, LORD, but the Anſwer will be, Verily, I know you not.
Thirdly, I would ſpeak a Word or two by Way of Exhortation to thoſe who are wiſe Virgins, and are aſſured that they have on a Wedding Garment. That there are many ſuch amongſt you, who by Grace have renounced your own Righteouſneſs, and know that the Righteouſneſs of the Lord JESUS is imputed to you, I make no doubt. GOD has his ſecret Ones in the worſt of Times; and I am perſuaded he has not lot ſo loud a Goſpel Cry to be made amongſt his People, as of late has been heard, for nothing: No, I am confident the Holy Ghoſt has been given to many at the Preaching of Faith, and has powerfully fallen upon many whilſt they have been hearing the Word: You are now then no longer fooliſh but wiſe Virgins; notwithſtanding, I beſeech you alſo to ſuffer the Word of Exhortation; for wiſe Virgins are too apt, whilſt the Bridegroom tarries, to ſlumber and ſleep. Watch therefore, my dear Brethren, watch and pray, at this Time eſpecially; for perhaps a Time of Suffering is at hand—The Ark of the LORD begins already to be driven into the Wilderneſs.—Be ye therefore upon your watch, and ſtill perſevere in following your LORD, even without the Camp, bearing his Reproach: The Cry that has been lately made, has awakened the Devil and his Servants: they begin to rage horribly; and well they may; for I hope his Kingdom is in Danger. Watch therefore, my dear Brethren, for if we are not always upon our Guard, a Time of Trial may overtake us unawares; and, inſtead of owning, like Peter we may be tempted to to deny our Maſter. Set Death and Eternity often before you. Look unto JESUS, the Author and Finiſher of your Faith, and conſider how little a While it will be, e'er he comes to Judgment; and then our Reproach ſhall be wiped away; the Accuſers of us and our Brethren ſhall be caſt down, and we all ſhall be ſhut in Heaven for ever, with our dear LORD JESUS.
Laſtly; what I ſay unto you, I ſay unto all, WATCH: High and Low, Rich and Poor, Young and Old, one with another, I beſeech you, by the Mercies of JESUS, whom I am now preaching, be upon your Guard: Fly, fly to JESUS CHRIST, that Heavenly Bridegroom: Behold he deſires to take you to himſelf, miſerable, poor, blind and naked as you are; he is willing to cloath you with his everlaſting Righteouſneſs, and make you Partakers of that Glory, which he enjoyed with the Father before the World began. Oh! do not turn a deaf Ear to me; do not reject the Meſſage on Account of the Meanneſs of the Meſſenger. I am a Child; a Youth of uncircumciſed Lips; but the LORD has choſen me, that the Glory might be all his own.—Had he ſent to invite you by a learned Rabbi, you might have been tempted to think the Man had done ſomething; but now GOD has ſent a Child that cannot ſpeak, that the Excellency of the Power may be ſeen not to be of Man, but of GOD. Let the learned Phariſees then deſpiſe my Youth. I care not how vile I appear in the Sight of ſuch Men: I glory in it. And I am perſuaded, if any of you ſhould be married to CHRIST by this Preaching, you will have no Reaſon to repent, when you come to Heaven, that GOD ſent a Child to cry, Behold the Bridegroom cometh! Oh! my Brethren, the Thought of being inſtrumental in bringing one of you to Glory, fills me with freſh Zeal. My Brethren, once more I entreat you, WATCH, WATCH AND PRAY: For the LORD JESUS will receive all that call upon him faithfully. Let that CRY, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, be continually ſounding in your Ears; and begin now to live, as though you were aſſured, this Night you were to go forth to meet him. I cou'd ſay more, but the other Buſineſs and Duties of the Day oblige me to ſtop. May the LORD give you all an hearing Ear, and obedient Heart, and ſo cloſely unite you to himſelf by one Spirit, that when he ſhall come in terrible Majeſty, to judge Mankind, you may be found having on a Wedding Garment, and ready to go in with him to the Marriage.
Grant this, O LORD, for … dear SON's Sake.