Fifteen Sermons, Sermon 15
SERMON XV.
THE WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS.
MATTHEW xxv. 13.
Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man cometh.
THE apoſtle Paul, in his epiſtle to the Hebrews, informs us, that it is appointed for all men once to die; after that in the 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 ſcroll, this element melt with fervent heat, the earth and all things therein be burnt up, and every ſoul, of 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 no better means to convert that ſinful man, than to 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, a judgment to come, that made him to tremble: and ſo bad as the world is now grown, yet there are few have their conſciences ſo far …eared, as to deny that there will be a reckoning he eaſter. 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 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 judgment to come? and they will tell you, they dare not give their conſciences 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 in that day? As for the openly profane, the drunkard, the whoremonger, the adulterer, and ſuch like, there is no doubt of what will become of them; without repentence, 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 eternal fire. Nor is there the leaſt doubt of the ſtate of true believers. For though they are 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, into which an abundant entrance ſhall be adminiſtered to them at the great day of account. 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 profane on the one hand, or, as he falſely imagines, righteous over-much on the other? Many there are in every congregation, and conſequently ſome here preſent, of this ſtamp. And what is worſt of all, it is 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 your judge, they ſhall as certainly be rejected and diſowned by him at the laſt day, as though they lived in open defiance to all his laws.
For, what ſays our Lord in the parable of which the words of the text are a concluſion, and which I intend to make the ſubject of my preſent diſcourſe: "Then," at the day of judgment, which he had been diſcourſing of in the foregoing, and proſecutes in this chapter, "ſhall the kingdom of heaven," the ſtate of profeſſors in the goſpel-church, be likened unto ten virgins, who took up 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, you are here to underſtand Jeſus Chriſt. The church, that is, 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. Are all 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. But 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, ſo he can dwell in none but virgin ſouls, made pure and holy by the cohabitation of his Holy Spirit. 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 verſe, "Five of thoſe virgins were wiſe," true believers, "and five were fooliſh," formal hypocrites. But why are five …aid to be wiſe, and the other five fooliſh? Hear what our Lord ſays in the following verſes; They that were fooliſh took their lamps, and took no oil with them; but the wi…e took oil in their veſſels with their lamps. They that were fooliſh took their lamps of an outward profeſſion." They would go to church, ſay over many manuals of prayers, come perhaps even in a field to hear ſermon, give at a collection, and receive the ſacrament conſtantly, nay, oftener than once a month. But then here lay the miſtake; they had no oil in their lamps, no principle of grace, no living faith in their hearts, without which, though we ſhould give all our goods to feed the poor, and our bodies to be burned, it would profit us nothing. In ſhort, they were exact, nay, perhaps ſuperſtitious bigots as to the form, but 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 hall or an aſſembly, notwithſtanding they promiſed at their baptiſm to renounce the pomps and vanities of this wicked world. They were ſo exceedingly fearful of being righteous overmuch, that they would even perſecute thoſe that were truly devout, if they attemted 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, and therefore, notwithſtanding their high pretenſions, 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 leave to aſk one queſtion. Whilſt I have been drawing, though in miniature, the character of theſe fooliſh virgins, have not many of your conſciences made the application and with a ſmall, ſtill, though articulate voice, ſaid, thou man, thou woman, art one of thoſe fooliſh virgins, for thy ſentiments and practice agree thereto? Stifle not, but rather encourrage theſe convictions; and, who knows but that Lord who is rich in mercy to all that call upon him faithfully, may ſo work on you even now by this fooliſhneſs of preaching, as to make you wiſe virgins?
What they were you ſhall know immediately: But the wiſe took oil in their veſſels with their lamps. Obſerve, the wiſe, the true believers, had their lamps as well as the fooliſh virgins; for Chriſtianity does not require us to caſt of 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 then 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 had ſavingly taſted the good word of life, and felt or had an experimental knowledge of the power of the world to come; they were not afraid of ſearching doctrines, nor affronted when miniſters told them they by nature deſerved 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 … works, as though they were to be juſtified by them: In ſhort, their obedience flowed from love and gratitude, and was cheerful, 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, though one chance and fate in this life may happen to you both. I ſay, one chance and fate: for verſe 5, "while the bridegroom tarried." in the ſpace of time which paſſeth between our Lord's aſcenſion and his coming again to judgment, "they all ſlumbered and ſlept." The wiſe as well as the fooliſh died, for duſt we are, and to duſt we muſt return. It is no reflection at all upon the divine goodneſs that believers, as well as hypocrites, muſt paſs through the valley of the ſhadow of death; for Chriſt has taken away the ſting of death, ſo that we need fear no evil. It is to them a paſſage to everlaſting life: Death is only terrible to thoſe who have no hope, becauſe they live without faith, and therefore without God in the world. Whoſoever there are amongſt you, that have received the firſt fruits of the Spirit, I am perſuaded are ready to cry out, we would not live here always; we long to be diſſolved, that we may be with Jeſus Chriſt; and though 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, when all was huſhed and quiet, and no one dreaming of any ſuch thing, "a cry was made;" the voice of the archangel 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 uſhered in 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 account 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 … a ſtinking manger; not to be deſpiſed and rejected of men; not to be blind-folded, ſpit upon, and buffetted; not to be nailed to an accurſed tree; he cometh not as the Son of man, but as he really was, the eternal Son of the 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 hear this awakening cry, would rejoice, if the rocks might fall on, and the hills cover them from the preſence of the Lamb: What would they give, if, as the lived as beaſts, they might now die like the beaſts that periſh? How would they rejoice, if thoſe ſame excuſes, which they made on this ſide eternity, for not attending on holy ordinances, would 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 … ſtool; even Pontius Pilate, Annas, and Ca…aphas; even the proud perſecuting high prieſts and Phariſees of this generation, muſt appear before him: For ſays our Lord, Then (when the cry was made, behold the bridegroom cometh!) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the graves were opened, the ſea gave up its dead and all thoſe virgins, both wiſe and fooliſh, aroſe and trimmed their lamps, or 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 of theſe fooliſh virgins, whilſt in this world, were clothed in purple and … linen, fared ſumptuouſly every day, and diſdained to ſet the wiſe virgins, ſome of whom might he 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 (though 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 intreated 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 theſe whom they once deſpiſed: "Give us of your oil;" O! 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 ſepulchres; we were heart-hypocrites; we conſented ourſelves with deſiring to be good; and tho' confident of ſalvation while we lived, yet our hope is entirely gone, now God has entirely taken away our ſouls; give us therefore, O! give us, though we once deſpiſed you, give us of your oil for our lamps of an outward profeſſion, and tranſient convictions, are quite gone out. Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, ſaith the Lord. My brethren to Chriſt, hear what the fooliſh ſay to the wiſe virgins, and learn in patience to poſſeſs your …, If you are true followers of the lowly Jeſus, I am perſuaded you have your names caſt out, and all manner of evil ſpoken falſely againſt you for his name's ſake. For no 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 houſehold: 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; 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 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 … 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 the fear of wanting a ſufficiency for themſelves, that made them return this anſwer, Not ſo, left there be not enough for us and you; for they … 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 yourſelves. Theſe words indeed ſeem to be ſpoken in a triumphant, but certainly they were uttered 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 of God, and looked on us as enthuſiaſts, for affirming, that we muſt be led and walk by the Spirit, and feel the Spirit of God witneſſing with our ſpirits, that we are his children? 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, "and buy for yourſelves."
And what ſay you to this, ye fooliſh formal profeſſors? for I doubt not but curioſity and novelty have brought many ſuch, even to this deſpiſed place, to hear a ſermon. Can you hear this reply, 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 form…; endeavour to cover your nakedneſs with the fig-leaves of an outward profeſſion, and legal righteouſneſs, and deſpiſe the true ſervants or Chriſt as much as you pleaſe, yet know, that all your hopes will fall you when God brings you into judgment. For not he who commendeth himſelf is juſtified, but he whom the Lord commendeth.
But to return; we do not hear of any reply the fooliſh virgins make: no, their conſciences condemned them; like the perſon 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," the bridegroom, the Lord Jeſus, the king, the huſband of his ſpouſe the church, cometh, attended with thouſands and twenty times ten thouſands of ſaints and angels, publicly 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, having on the wedding-garment of an imputed righteouſneſs, and a new nature, went in to the marriage.
Who can expreſs the tranſports theſe wiſe virgins felt, when they were thus admitted, in holy triumph, into the preſence and full enjoyment of him, whom their ſouls hungered and thirſted after. No doubt they had taſted of his love, and by faith had often fed on him in their 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 ſeated 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, the company of angels, and the ſpirits of juſt man-made perfect, for ever. 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; no hypocrite or unbeliever, can ſcreen himſelf among them. Now "the wicked ceaſe from troubling" and now their weary ſouls enjoy reſt.
Once more, O believers, let me exhort you in patience to poſſeſs your ſouls. God, has ſealed you to be his, and has ſecured you, as ſurely as he did Noah, when he locked him in the ark. But though heirs of God, and joint-heirs of Chriſt, and neither men nor devils can pluck you out of your heavenly Father's hands, yet you muſt be toſſed about with manifold temptations; however, lift up your heads, the day of your perfect complete redemption draws nigh. Behold the bridegroom cometh to take you to himſelf; then you ſhall be ever with the Lord.
But I even tremble to tell you, O nominal Chriſtians! that the door ſhall be ſhut, I mean the door of mercy, never to be opened to give you admiſſion, tho' you ſhould continue knocking to all eternity. For thus ſpeaks our Lord, "Afterwards," after thoſe that were ready went in, and the door was ſhut; after they had, to their ſorrow, ſound that no oil was to be bought, nor grace procured, came alſo the other virgins; and as Eſau, after Jacob had got the bleſſing, cried with an exceeding bitter cry, "Bleſs me, even me alſo, O 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, did not pray over their prayers. If you now 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 among 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 through Jeſus Chriſt. If any ſuch, by the good providence of God, are brought hither this morning, I beſeech you to conſider your ways, and remember, if you are not awakened out of your ſpiritual lethargy, and live a life of prayer here, you ſhall but in vain cry but with the fooliſh virgins, Lord, Lord, open to us, hereafter. Obſerve farther, the impudence, as well as importunity of theſe other virgins; Lord, Lord, ſay they, as though they were intimately acquainted with the holy Jeſus. Like numbers among us, who becauſe they go to church, repeat their creeds, and receive the bleſſed ſacrament, think they have a right to call Jeſus their Saviour, and dare call, God their Father, when 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 is 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 the bleſſed Jeſus make? He anſwered and ſaid, "Verily, I ſay unto you:" He puts the word verily … 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 not." 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 for ever, 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 knows who come like new-born babes, deſirous to be fed with the ſincere milk of the word; and he knows who come to hear what the babbler ſays, and to run away with part of a broken ſentence, that they may have whereof they may ridicule or accuſe him. This expreſſion then, "I know you not," muſt not be underſtood literally; no, it implies a knowledge of approbation, as though 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! 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 real 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 intreat you, they are not ſent away for being fornicators, ſwearers, ſabbath-breakers, or prodigals. No, in all probability, they were, touching the outward obſervances of the moral 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 harm. The only thing for … they were condemned, and eternally baniſhed from the preſence of the Lord (for ſo much is implied in 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 farther, 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 will you and ſuch like ſinners appear? I know very well. You muſt appear before the dreadful tribunal of Jeſus Chriſt: 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, that your damnation ſlumbers not: ſin has blinded your hearts and hardened your foreheads now, but yet a little while, and our Lord will eaſe him of his adverſaries. Methinks, 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, aſtoniſhed, and crying out, who can abide this day of his coming!
And now what inference ſhall I draw from what has been ſaid? Our Lord, in the text, has drawn one for me: Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
Watch, that is, be on 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 though it were our laſt.
And O 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 text. Watch, therefore, my brethren, I beſeech you by the mercies of God in Chriſt Jeſus, Watch; be on your guard; Awake, ye that ſleep in the duſt; for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Perhaps to day, perhaps this midnight, this 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, the day of death is certainly near at hand. For what is our life? It is but a vapour, ſoon paſſeth it away, and we are gone. Bleſſed be God, we are all here well; but who, out of this great multitude, dare ſay, I ſhall go home to my houſe in ſafety! Who knows, … whilſt I am ſpeaking God may commiſſion his miniſtering ſpirits 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. And what angel or ſpirit has 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-morrow, O my ſoul, wilt thou not watch to-day? Since I know not but I may die next moment, why wilt thou not prepare for dying this?
Many ſuch reflections as theſe, my brethren, croud in on 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. 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, are conſiderations, which furniſh me with ſo much matter, that I ſcarce know where to begin, or end my application. However, for method's ſake, by the divine aſſiſtance, I will branch it into three particulars.
And Firſt, I would remind you, that are notoriouſly ungodly, of what our Lord ſays in the text: for, tho' I have ſaid your damnation ſlumbers not, whilſt you continue … an impenitent ſtate; yet that was only to ſet you on 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, or 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 on it, that he will ſhortly tranſlate you to his heavenly paradiſe. Wonder not at my ſpeaking with ſo much aſſurance, for I know It is a faithful and true ſaying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jeſus Chriſt came into the world to ſave (all truly affected 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 is 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' you are the worſt of ſinners, yet he will not ſay unto you, Verily I know you not. No, a door of mercy ſhall be opened to you. Look then, by an eye of faith, to that God man, whom ye have pierced. Behold him bleeding, panting, dying on the croſs, with arms ſtretched out ready to embrace you all. Hark! how he groans! See how all nature is in 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 bitter agonies and pangs of death, prays for his very murderers: Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. If then you have crucified 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 Peter's preaching one ſermon, after our Lord's aſcenſion, and many of the crucifiers of the Lord of glory undoubtedly were among them; and why ſhould you deſpair? For Jeſus Chriſt is the ſame yeſterday, to-day, and for ever. 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 a ſenſe of your ſins, lay hold on Chriſt by faith and he will give you reſt; for ſalvation is the free gift of God to all them that believe. And though you may think this too good news to be true, yet I ſpeak the truth in Chriſt, I lie not, this is the goſpel, this is the glad tidings which we are commiſſioned to preach to every one. 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 in death, death often in this life, death everlaſting in the next: but the free gift of God is everlaſting life to all that believe in Jeſus Chriſt. Phariſees are and will be offended at my coming here, and offering your 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, that Jeſus, David's ſon according to the fleſh, but David's Lord as he was God, will have mercy on all that by a living faith truly turn to him. If this is to be vile, I pray God I may be more vile. If they will not let me preach Chriſt crucified; and offer ſalvation to 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 devil's 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 hope will be gathered into his heavenly garner. It is true, It is the midnight of the church, eſpecially the poor church of England; but God has lately ſent forth his ſervants to cry, Behold the bridegroom cometh: I beſeech you, O ſinners, hearken unto the voice! Let me eſpouſe you by faith to my dear maſter: and henceforward watch and pray, that you mad be ready to go forth to meet him.
Secondly, I would apply to thoſe that are not openly profane, but by depending on a formal round of duties, deceive your ſouls, and are fooliſh virgins.
But I muſt ſpeak to your conviction, rather than comfort. My dear brethren, you have heard how far the fooliſh virgins went, and yet were anſwered with, "Verily I know you no…:" The reaſon is, becauſe none but ſuch as 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 juſtify 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 Saviour? taking the crown from 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 the Father commanded all the angels to worſhip him: and what do you leſs? You will not own and ſubmit to his righteouſneſs; and though 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 the hopes of his ſalvation. Need I not then to cry out to you, ye fooliſh virgins, watch. Beg of God to convince you of your ſelf-righteouſneſs, and the unbelief of your hearts; or otherwiſe when 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 to you by way of exhortation to thoſe who are wiſe virgins and are aſſured 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 let ſo loud a goſpel-cry be made among 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 on 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, 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 on 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 their kingdom is in danger. Watch therefore, for if we are not always on our guard, a time of trial may overtake us unawares; and, inſtead of owning, like Peter we may be tempted to deny our maſter. Set death and eternity often before you. Look to Jeſus, the author and finiſher of your faith, and conſider how little a while it will be, ere 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 lodged in heaven for ever, with our dear Lord.
Laſtly, What I ſay to you, I ſay to all, Watch: High and low, rich and poor, young and old, one with another, of whatever ſect or denomination, for I regard not that, I beſeech you, by the mercies of Jeſus, to be on your guard: 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 clothe you with his everlaſting righteouſneſs, and make you partakers of that glory, which he enjoyed with the Father before the world began. 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; 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 ſuppoſed that the man had done ſomething; but now God has ſent a child, 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! O my brethren, the thought of being inſtrumental in bringing one of you to glory, fills me with freſh zeal. Once more, I entreat you, Watch, and pray; for the Lord Jeſus will receive all that call on 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. May the Lord give you all an hearing ear, an 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 Father, for thy dear Son's ſake, Chriſt Jeſus our Lord. Amen! and Amen!
FINIS.
End of the text · George Whitefield, Fifteen Sermons (1794)