also will be the Nature of his Temporal Kingdom Psal 72. 8. Therefore Christ biddeth his Disciples not to follow or go after those who are of a poor Narrow Spirit Luke 17. 23. Confining his Work or Dispensation to some Lesser Compass as Partial Reformists do in a Spiritual and Ecclesiastical sence and others in a Civil or Political as did those Jews of Old unto Judea Since the whole of his Government is endlessly increasing Isa 9. 7. though first heard of in Bethlehem Ephrata Psal 132. 6. the least among Judah's Thousands Mic. 5. 2. Nor will that Kingdom be without its Interruption as Christ there signifieth Luke 17. 22. by his Disciples defiring in vain to see one of his Days who was Then with them So will it be with reference unto his Temporal Kingdom which hath been formerly proved at large as in Relation to his Spiritual In which Regard Souls must look for a fresh Conversion upon some Greater Fall or Revolution Acts 3. 19. The not Understanding whereof made his Disciples to Rebuke the Bringers of Little Children to him Luke 18. 15. and is the Cause why others cannot Enter into his Kingdom v. 17. which doth consist of none but such v. 16. Therefore let not us or the Churches be Offended with this Interruption and that Renovation 10. Forgetfulness of Old Distinguishing Mercies from the Lord. Thus with Respect unto the Latter Days professing Jews are Taxed for their saying unto God Wherein when he had told them of his former Love Mal. 1. 2. which he re-minds them of in Competition with their Brother Esau whom he had Hated and laid his Mountains waste Mal. 1. 2 3. Thus Edom in the Mystery or Israel's Elder Brother according to the Flesh hath been quite laid aside of later Years yet have not the Men of Judah walked worthy of their being suffered to continue still And whereas Edom will at such a time hope for the Return of his Captivity God will throw down his Buildings Mal. 1. 4 and will be Magnified from the Border of Israel v. 5. or from some out-skirts of these Jews as that word Border intimateth Ezek. 11. 11. although the Generality of This People also Now would soon be laid aside v. 11. and partly because they virtually had forgot this great Discriminative Favour 11. Wishing for the Day of Christ without Considering the Nature of it Some will Desire it's being hastened in a way of scoffing Isa 5. 19. but others simply though to no End save their own sorrow Amos 5. 18. And yet who is there at this day among Professors but seeketh it and is Delighted in its Expectation Like those of Old Mal 3. 1. who yet could not Abide it nor stand therein v. 2. The Reason is because All Hope to wear some of that Bridegroom's Favours as did the Jews Mat. 20. 21. and the Samaritans also John 4. â—â— but Dream not of his fiery Baptism Mat. 20. 22. In which regard that Prophet did not desire the woful Day Jer. 17. 16. when others said v. 15. Let it Come Now No more should we if seriously considering How many Virgins then will be Defloured Zech. 14. 2. and how much Loss the saved ones will then Meet with besides Affrightment Zech. 13. 9. 12. A mighty proneness to Impose upon Observe and Censure others more than our selves and to deal thus with some more than with others in a sinful way Old Age is more for Talk than Actions as were the Pharisees Mat. 23. 3. who never thought another's Burden Heavy enough v. 4. And they who mind their own Work least are apt to be most busie in Observing others so as to spye their very Motes Mat. 7. 3. which is the Labour of Idle Persons Yea Christ and his Disciples who least Deserved it had sharpest Censures and most Observing Eyes as Harmless Jeremy had from his Jerusalem Jer. 15. 10. Yea Evil for Good Jer. 18. 20. while Herod's Incest and their own gross Enormities were over-looked But as this did evince their being Hypocrites in Christ's Opinion so is it but a Folly Now to think of Hiding inward sleightiness by Liveless Testimonies and being Dis-satisfied with another's Low Attainments more than our own It is a slye Temptation this since Conscience is pleased with Reproving sin or Pressing Duty and Pride is for that Magisterial Act with reference unto another Yea under this Painted Tomb of Verbal Declamations the Old Man's Rottenness lyes undiscovered Mat. 23. 27 28. Next unto Heartless self-condemning this Formal witnessing unto the Height of Sin and Duty in another is one of the saddest Dying Groans or Symptoms of a Near approaching Change among Professors at this Day 13. Mis-apprehending the Voice of Providence as to its Principal and Proper Meaning Thus as the Enemies of Sion will not understand God's Thoughts and Counsel in bringing them against her to their own Destruction Mic. 4. 11 12 13. So neither will some in Sion know wherefore he doth Those things unto them as is Apparent from their putting that Question to the Prophet Jer. 6. 10. wherein they are more Ignorant than some of other Nations Jer. 22. 8 9. Such will impute the Assyrian's Coming unto the Grosser Wickedness of those among them Whereas God chiefly sendeth him against the Hypocrites Isa 10. 5 6. Such will Arraign 't is like that Persecuting Persian or Assyrian Spirit as by whose means their following Judgments came But God tells them it hath been by Their Means Mal. 1. 9. because of their Complying with the Persian Prohibition Hag. 1. 9. And when Deliverance cometh such will be apt to share its Meritorious Cause among Themselves Which yet next to the Lord 's own Name Ezek. 36. 22. is Attributed to a Little Remnant Isa 1. 9. a Tenth or Holy Seed Isa 6. 13. and single Cluster upon a Withered Vine Isa 65. 8. The Man of Wisdom will see God's Name Mic. 6. 9. and Prudent ones shall Understand Hos 14. 9. but none of the Wicked Dan. 12 20. which is a sore Temptation 14. Mistaking the Predominant Duty of such a Time as did Five of those Spies to One when in the Wilderness Numb 14. 30. and but Three Hundred in David's Time did seem to know what Israel ought to do 1 Chron. 12. 32. And with Respect unto the Day of Jacob's Trouble some Ask as being Ignorant what God would have them do Mic. 6. 6 Ghessing at several things as Thousands of Rams Ten Thousand Rivers of Oyl yea their First-born v. 7. which in their Eye were of the Greatest Value and yet All wrong v. 8. though such had Meant according to their Proffer which yet is Questionable Thus at this Day some count a Witness against the Papists others against the Prelates others against the Hearing of Conformists c. to be the Principal Duty of this present Time with reference unto which they Nobly proffer the Sacrificing of Ten Thousand Lives But if our Going out of Old Jerusalem be a present Duty
Earth which Then will be Acknowledged Psal 83. 18. He is the Saints Onely Lord 1 Cor. 8. 6. but Foolish Virgins would not that he should Reign Luke 14. 14. as their Disputing his Command of Going forth to Meet him intimateth untill This time and then they yield Mat. 25. 24. These Now pretend to be his Servants yea they Now grant him to be Lord of All with an Emphatical Reduplication and in Particular as to his Right of Opening here And what a Glory will it be to Christ and to his People when These shall thus submit themselves with silver Speeches Psal 68. 30. 4. The Earnestness of their Desire to be Admitted as this Ingemination signifieth Such will then Crie as sometimes the Disciples did when like to Perish Master Master Luke 8. 24. Thus some will seek to enter Luke 13. 24. since being Without at such a time will argue Men to be Dogs Rev. 22. 15. and likely to Die of Hunger Isa 65. 13. Whilest there is any Work in hand Dogs love to slumber Isa 56. 10. and will lie quetly Without till Supper-time but then such Howl if not Admitted in who could not Bark before Such Dogs are also Greedy Isa 56. 11. nor can they now sleep as heretofore who therefore needs must Howl the more Isa 65. 14. Quest 2. What is Desired by them in their saying Open to us Answ 1. That Christ himself would Own them as seemingly heretofore and as their desiring Him to Open Primarily importeth Lord Some of our former Raptures from thy self some of thy Blessings upon our Endeavours at least some Tastings of that Heavenly Gift which formerly had been vouchsafed to us Heb. 6. 4 5. But this will not be granted in that Day Self-seeking Preachers heretofore may have been usefull unto Others Phil. 1. 18. but Now such will be silenced by Christ Psal 50. 16. who therefore shall not profit the People at all Jer. 23. 32. That Light will then be gathered up into the Sun as in the first Creation Gen. 1. 16. which formerly was Distributed v 3. And Self-Encompassers with their own Sparks will then lie down in Sorrow Isa 50. 11. 2. That rightly constituted Churches would receive them in together with the Second Temple's Opening unto Others Lord will such plead Admit us to thy Children's Table let us be under their Inspection and let us sing thy Praises with them But that will not be granted neither Where Christ hears sway the Childrens Bread shall not be cast to Dogs since it Ought not to be so by his Order Mat. 7. 6. And if John Baptist's Ministration did Refuse those unrepenting Pharisees Mat. 7. 8 much more will Christ's v. 12. Yea till the Vials be poured out this Second Temple will be so filled with Glory as that no Man that is no such as These as Rev. 14. 3. shall then be able to Enter into it Rev. 15. 8 since none but Zadocks Sons shall goe into that Sanctuary Ezek. 44. 15 16 17. 3. That Saints at least as Saints would not refuse Communion with them in Religious Actions of a Common Nature Lord will these say let not thy People turn their back upon us speaking let them not Grieve to Joyn with us in Prayer let them account us Christian Brethren still though not in Church-relation But neither will This be condescendâ—d unto Christ will then bid Let them Alone because Blind Leaders and not of his Father's Planting Mat. 15. 13 14. Then will there be a Difference put between Paul's praying in the Presence of and Joyning therein with others Act. 27. 35. Then also will that Phrase be used of calling such onely Brethren according to the Flesh Rom. 9. 3. by way of Distinguishing them from Isaac's Seed or Children v. 7. 4. That Equal sharing How soever in Outward Blessings may not be denied to them who were sometimes wont to have the Greatest Portion Lord will such Cry as Esau did let us be also Blessed by thee Gen. 27. 34. hast thou not Reserved a Blessing for us v. 36 although but one v. 38. But Esau then will not Prevail as having Sold away his outward Blessing with his Birth-right however Confident at such a time Mal. 1. 4. That Fruitful Field will then become a Forest Isa 32. 15. and it shall Hail thereon when Sion's City shall be Low in a Low place or Fruitful Valley v. 19. Now they who are shut out of Earth as well as Heaven must needs be in some kind of Hell which in Respect of wonted Outwards will be the Foolish Virgins Portion 5. That such might not at least meet with those Positive Hardships which Excluded Persons may have cause to fear Lord will their Last Petition be yet let us not be over hardly used by thy self or by thy Servants or by our own Accusing Consciences But this Request will not be granted Christ will deny them before his Father who have Persiâ—tingly Denyed Him by their Departure from his work Mat. 10. 33. Such will be Galled with the Name of Hypocrites and Workers of Iniquity Mat. 7. 23. leaving their Name for a Curse unto God's Chosen ones Isa 65. 15. Yea as such will be Abhor'd by All so will they have a Gnawing Never-dying Worm within far worse than Death because they have Transgrest against the Lord Isa 66. 24. Quest 3. What should Encourage these to Hope for Entrance which both their Coming and their Pleading intimate Answ 1. Because of their being Virgins Lord may such plead we are no Harlots and must we yet be Numbred with them VVe have refused to hold Communion with the Strumpets of our Time and must we Now be made to do so We have withstood Humane Inventions in Religious Worship and are we now Excluded with the Beast But it will then be Answered you were not indeed like those more filthy Swine yet are you Goats who therefore Now must be Divided from the Sheep Mat. 25. 32. You were no Down-right Babylonians but being joyned to them is sufficient Isa 13. 15. Or rather you had the Name of Virgins but were Harlots and Christian Babylon must be Destroyed 2. Because of their Having had Communion with the Wise in former times Lord may such Plead we have been welcom to thy Table Luke 13. 26. and are we now Denyed its Crumbs Thy Guests within have been our Fellows and must we now be used like Dogs We can produce their Letters Testimonial and will not that Commendamus help us to our Ancient Fellowship To which Christ then will Answer I bad the Tares be let alone untill This time Mat. 13. 30. and though my People failed in your Admission yet am not I therefore bound to do so nor They for time to come Ezek. 44. 9. Nay you are not the same you were in point of sometime visibility However I now must Judge with Righteousness and Equity Isa 11. 3 4. 3. Because of their good Service done for Christ Mat. 7. 22. Such will then Plead
Dueness of that Composure which doth Accompany the deepest sensibleness Occasioned by it Acts 9. 3. 6. Compared with Judas his Conviction Mat. 27. 3. 5. 6. It is a sence of wanting Oyl in Lamps but not in Vessels the Latter whereof is of far greater Consequence as is a sound Mind or Honest Heart Compared with the best Affections Thus were the Pharisees Apprehensive of some Lesser failings but not more Weighty Matters Mat. 23. 23. as some are sensible of Actual sins but not Original or of their wanting such Particular Fruits but not the Root of a Renewed Principle Whereas good David did bewail his being shapen in Iniquity Psal 51. 5. and begged the Renewing of his Heart and Spirit v. 10. as Paul did most Lament his Body of Death Rom. 7. 24. and took more Notice of his Mind than of his Members v. 23. 25. But if an Hypocrite may have some Present stirring of Affections in him his Conscience is so weak as to be satisfied without a Change of Mind or Spirit of Grace which is the onely Conservator and Ennobler of good Affections This is the utmost of that sence Relating to the want of Oyl which may be in a Foolish Virgin or unsound Professor Quest 2. What is the Nature of that Confession which is here made by Foolish Virgins as to the Failing of their Oyl or Light Answ 1. It must be onely in a way of Counterfeit or of Pretending the want of Present Light because they had no mind to Walk as was exhorted unto by the Cry Thus one of those Invited Ghests made shew as if he Could not Come Luke 14. 20. whose want of Will was all the Cause else might his Wise have come with him and both of them should have been Welcome Indeed good David once did feign himself berest of Reason 1 Sam. 23. 13. and Peter made as if he knew not Jesus Mat. 26. 27. but neither of them did persist herein as do these Foolish Virgins And thus as some are willingly Ignorant 2 Pet. 3. 5. so others scorn to be Accounted Blind John 9. 40. who yet will seem as if they did not see that which is Manifest in their Conscience 2 Cor. 5. 11. and want not Light but onely Grace to use that Talent the Hiding whereof will not excuse from being cast into that outer Darkness where they shall weep in vain Mat. 25. 30. 2. They here Confess a Weighty Failure without Affection suitable thereunto The want of Oyl at such a time is of the saddest consequence yet do not we read of their Lamenting but onely saying Our Lamps are Gone or Going out Man is endued with Affections which since the Fall are Dislocated or Mis-placed as to their Proper Objects An Hypocrite is never Moderate save with Respect to Spiritual Losses which he can signifie without Complaining Thus some confess their want of Light whose Gummed Eyes are not so much as washt with Natural Tears Affections are both the Outward Evidence and stirrers up of Inward Sense which they who Bridle now when need requireth such a vent will Weep the more hereafter unto the multiplying of their fruitless sorrow Unsound Professors may be Affectionate 1 Sam. 24. 16. but unaffectionate Confessions in Momentous Cases have small appearance of their being sound but like the Foolish Virgins 3. Much Partiality may be Observed in their Confession 1. They confess their Want or Suffering onely but not their sin or want of Care to be supplyed at the first Most Bodily Sicknesses are from Intemperance yet few Complains of the one are truly sensible of the other much less will they Confess it save in a Case of Gross Exorbitancy The bare acknowledgment of one's Suffering transfers the Cause upon another but the confessing of its in bred-Root doth add Disgrace unto the Plaintiff's sorrow Thus some bewail their want of Spiritual strength as being an heavy Portion from the Lord but take no notice of their sluggishness as being Accessary to their own enfeebling And it is easier to be Convinced of a sin than to Confess it as David found Psal 32. 3. and much more Saul till he was forced thereunto 1 Sam. 15. 30. Indeed 't is Folly to complain of Punishment and not of Sin which is the Cause Lam. 3. 39. but yet 't is very Natural and more especially to Foolish Virgins 2. They do Confess the Present Failing of their Oyl but not their taking No Oyl with them at the first as Christ had truly said concerning them Mat. 25. 3. They would be thought to have had that whâ—ch now they do confess was Gone or Going How weak are they who ground the Fallible Nature of Holy Oyl upon these Foolish Virgins false Pretension as if They were to be believed more than Christ But thus an Hypocrite would save the Reputation of his former state when forced from his present Claim What Paint do such bestow upon Professed Tombs by seeking to Embalm that which they do acknowledge to be Dead But thus a wrong Foundation is not owned together with the failing of a Superstructure and though some less miscarriage may be confessed yet is self-honour in an Higher case consulted for in such Professors deepest self-condemnations as was apparent in Saul's Example 1 Sam. 15. 30. 3. They onely do Confess the Failing of their Lamps and meerly with Respect unto this present Expedition But not so Plainly their want of Oyl at least-wise not their having Now No Grace at all All have their Failings saith an Hypocrite and I have mine making no Difference in point of kind between himself and others but onely in Degree Agur confesseth himself to be Beneath a Man Prov. 30. 2. and David himself to be Behemoth or a Beast of the Plural Number Psal 73. 22. whilst Hypocrites will call themselves of the Holy City Isa 48. 2. the Seed of Abraham John 8. 33. the Temple of the Lord Jer. 7. 4. Thus some confess their want of Light into a Duty urged unto but Judge that Ignorance to be consistent with the Main and are offended with the Questioning of their Spiritual state meerly because that Oyl is wanting It would be well if All were thus Ingenuous But Ananias and Sapphira would rather Dye than make a full and free Confession and of this Nature is that Acknowledgment which is here made by Foolish Virgins 4. They do not Deny this Going out to be the Wiser Virgins Duty yet will they not confess their own sitting still to be their sin but Judge their want of Oyl or Light sufficiently to Vindicate them from that Charge A Gracious Heart is sensible of unknown Errors and doth desire to be cleansed from secret faults Psal 19. 12. not counting himself to be therefore Justified simply because he knoweth Nothing by himself 1 Cor. 4. 4. but Foolish Virgins are not Careful at least not self-condemning in such a case It satisfieth such if they can say We have no Light into some-kind of Practice the total Neglect