but these are gone out up and doing these are gone to seek gone to meet 4. They are gone to meet Christ as a Bridegroom with some hope joy and expectation as they that have an interest in him Having thus opened the words I shall take notice of those observable Doctrines that flows from the words 1. That near to the second coming of Jesus Christ the Gospel of the kingdom is preached many shall take upon them professed friendship to him then shall there be ten Virgins even multitudes take up profession 2. The Church here on Earth doth or ought to bear a resemblance to the kingdom of Heaven to come 3. All that are waiting for Christ aright are or ought to be Virgins 4. Those only are wrightly waiting for Christ who are gone forth 5. They that go forth to meet Jesus Christ as they ought have Lamps with them 6. All those that are gone to meet and wait for Christ do go to meet him as a Bridegroom I shall give a brief hint to each of these 1. As to the great number of Professors that shall come in the latter days I have in the explication of this number ten shewed you that it is taken for a large indefinent number This was prophesied Esa 60.5 The abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee and the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee ver 8. They shall flock like Doves to the windows Christs house will be furnished with Guests Math. 22.10 Many are called Jesus Christ did foresee that the harvest would be very great Math. 9.37 But some may object was not this fulfilled in the beginning of the Gospel when there were 3000 converted at one Sermon of Peters Acts 2. I answ No First because those then converted were Jews but these prophesied of are Gentiles and Secondly this plentiful flowing in is contemporary with those signs and immediate fore-runners of Christs coming Ch. 24. Now that which shall occasion this large flowing in in that juncture of time may be these circumstances First From that great increase of light that shall break out in that Day which was prophesied of by the Prophet Daniel Chap. 12.4 Many shall run to and fro and knowledg shall be increased which doth refer to that time aâ— we may perceive by the Context We read also of an Angel coming down from Heaven by whose means the Earth is enlightned Rev. 18.1 the first fruit whereof we see in our days Secondly These may arise from the great noise of Christs second coming which shall be made more than formerly which shall awaken many and cause them to run forth The Doctrin of the latter days near Christs second coming will run much upon this Subject this was foreseen by Malachy Chap. 3 as we may also gather out of the Book of the Revelations Thirdly those dreadful and amazing dispensations of God that shall take place in the latter days when those signs spoken of Math. 24. Luk. 21. shall begin to come to pass this shall make all the Tribes of the Earth to mourn Math. 24.30 Luk. 21.25 26. Mens hearts failing at the sight hereof From hence we may be informed that we are upon the borders of the latter days we have not only seen some forerunners of Christs coming in other respects but we have in some part seen this also great numbers of persons have flowed in in these 20 years past much more than formerly So much for the first Doctrin The second is drawn from this appellation kingdom of Heaven Christ doth not inconsiderately but with good consideration so call it From whence I draw the second part That the Church of Christ here on Earth ought to bear a lively resemblance of the State of glory and that in four Circumstances 1. From their compactness the Church of Christ are imbodied together and compact we have this very word used Eph. 4.16 Speaking there of the Church saith it is compact as the Natural Body is so is this therefore called a City Ephe. 2. Fellow Citizens of the Saints so the glory to come called a City Heb. 11.1 ver 16. He hath prepared for them a City 1 Pet. 2.5 Buâ—â— up a spiritual house 2. The Church resembles the State of glory in that purity and holiness 〈◊〉 ought to be in it or members of it Plas 93.5 Holiness becometh thy house for ever the Church is as to holiness stiled Golden Candlesticks which answers to the State of Glory in which no unclean thing shall enter 3. The Church on Earth bears a meet resemblance to the State of Glory and may be called here by Christ the kingdom of Heaven because as Christ is King and Lawgiver in that kindom of Glory so Christ is King and Lawgiver to his Church James 4.12 One Lawgiver 4. As Christ will be resident in his kingdom with his Saints he shall then dwell amongst them Rev. 22.3 he â—abernacle of God is with men and he will dwell amongst them so in the Church the Lord hath promised to walk and dwell amongst them 2. Cor. 6.16 He walketh amongst the Churches under the name of Golden Candlesticks Rev. 1. Thus the Church bears a resemblance with the Kingdom of Glory and the Church is the Porch or entrance into Glory according to Acts 2. last The Lord added to tâ—e Church daily such as should be saved This consideration well weighed may serve to provoke holiness in the Church of Christ both in Ministers and members it is prophesied as to the State of the Church to come Esa 63.21 the people shall be all righteous that we are sure will be a holy time a holy State and without holiness no man shall see God Heb. 12.14 You that are Church members labour after holiness if you arrive not at holiness here you shall never have it hereafter the truth of this Doctrin is confirmed by the third Doctrin which I shall only name 3. Doct. That all that truly wait for Christ are or ought to be Virgins I have already shewed you in the explication what is intended by Christ in this appellation they that the Scripture gives this appellation to or name of Virgins unto such as are holy Persons First as to a blameless holy conversation Secondly Such as are separate from false worship as I shewed you from Rev. 14.4 but I proceed to the fourth doctrin which is this 4. Doct. That all that truly wait for Christ are gone forth they are raised from their Bed of carnal security The Apostle writing to the Hebrew Church Chap. 13.13 doth emphatically call their sufferings for Christ going forth Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp bearing his reproach The Spouse of Christ Cant. 3.1.2 While she seeks Christ upon her Bed found him not she must arise and go forth to seek her beloved whom her Soul loves this going forth supposeth a sequestration in a great measure from earthly injoyments and this the Prophet Joel calls for Joel 2 16. Let the
4. We have our Lord taking off this Reply shewing them the truth of what he had said Of these in order 1. We have considerable Christ's gracious Sentence and Invitation to Glory in these words Come ye In which passage we have these five Circumstances considerable 1. The present capacity that then our Lord shall be in A King or the King twice exprest in the Context We have our Lord Christ under a fourfold capacity set forth in this Chapter 1. A Bridegroom 2. A Nobleman travelling 3. A Lord coming v. 19. 4. A King judging and ruling The fourth of which we are now upon 2. We have in this verse the sweet amicable Epithet or Salutation used by Christ to them ye blessed of my Father commonly in Scriptures a manifestation of gracious respect as I shall shew you 3. We have Christ's Gift or Bequeathment from this dear love and respect and that is the Kingdom Which Kingdom we have 4. Set out 1. By the right and propriety of it it is implicitly an Inheritance 2. Prepared for them 3. As to the Antiquity and Eternity of it before the foundation of the World These are the particular Circumstances in our Text of which I shall very briefly speak 1. By way of Explication 2. Observation 3. Application 1st By way of Explicacion 1. What is this Kingdom 2. What may we understand by this appellation blessed of my Father 3. How may it be said to be prepared 4. How from the foundation of the World 5. What said here inherit 1. By this Kingdom I understand the Kingdom under the whole Heavens prophesied clearly by Daniel chap. 7. and it is on the Earth Rev. 5 10. over the Nations Rev. 2.27 three times exprest Dan. 7.18 22 27. and it plainly appears to be the same that Nebuchadnezzer had before by the context there 2. Why called blessed of my Father This is a Salutation shewing very high esteem to them and so it is used in Scripture from men see Gen. 24.31 from Laban to Abrahams Servant Come in thou blessed of Jehovah an honourable title as Ainsworth faith on the place To that end is it used by Abimelech to Isaac Gen. 26.29 Thou art now the blessed of Jehovah It is used also by Naomi to her Daughter Ruth 3.10 Blessed art thou of the Lord that hath shewed thee kindness From Saul to Samuel 1 Sam. 15 13. thou blessed of the Lord. It was used to express very great respect And it is understood that there is three circumstances contained in this Salutation 1. A very amicable loving sweet Countenance so Erasmus paraphrasing on this verse and saluting saith He to the sort on the right hand with a mild and merry chear shall say Come my Friends whom the World counted vile and execrable but my Father counts honourable and praise-worthy So he 2. This Salutation was spoken with much reverence and honour to them unto whom it was spoken it was with bowing and worship to those unto whom they spake 3. This respect was given as they having received it first from God as if Christ should say I esteem and honour you because my Father honoureth you you are not only blest by me in this capacity but my Father hath determined this Blessing to rest upon you But 3dly Why is this Kingdom said to be prepared I answ To prepare supposeth these three things 1st To work or make a thing is to prepare 2dly To establish confirm or appoint So God's Throne is said to be prepared of old Psal 9 7. so understood Râ—m 9.23 there he speaks or persons prepared unto Gâ—â—â—â— or pre-appointed 3dly To prepare is to make every way fit and ready for the end But 4thly Why are they invited to inherit Answ To inherit supposeth an Inheritance purchased by their Ancestors as Children inherit after their Fathers what was theirs and that of right The Estate which a Father leâ—ves to be divided to his Children doth properly bear the name of an Inheritance Prov. 13.22 A good man leaves an Inheritance to his Children Prov. 19.14 Houses and Riches are the Inheritance of Fathers Therefore Luke 12. the man speaks to Christ to divide the Inheriâ—ance 2dly It is called an Inheritance because it is long and worthy it is not a small inconsiderable Legacy that is stiled an Inheritance but a considerable Estate Therefore David stiles God's Word by this name his Inheritance Psal 119. 3dly Caâ—â—ed an Inheritance because it was yours before you were born But fifthly Why added here before the foundation of the World I answ 1. To set out the Antiquity of God's design of good to your souls that shall be found in Christ This was one of the most early Contrivances of God the Salvation and Glorification of Sinners was one of the great Concernments upon God's heave in the very beginning 2 Tim. 1.9 Who hath saved us and called us with an holy Calling not according to our Works but according to his own Purpose and Grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the World began Epâ— 1 4. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of â—he World thaâ— we should be holy and without blame before him 2. To shew the certainty of this Inberitance therefore is Antiquity affixed unto the Promise oâ— Christ to come His Death the Kingdom of Christ to set out the certainty of this Inheritance Having thus explicated the words I now proceed to observe ten Parts from them Part 1. That Jesus Christ the Son of God and Son of man iâ— his distributions of Favours and Severities in his second Coming unto his own Servants is a King Part 2. God the Father is the principal Agent in Glorification of the Righteous Part 3. That Jesus Christ in handing out Glory to the Righteous doth it with apparent manifestation of dear affection and choice esteem whilst he calls them Blessed of his Father Part 4. From this word of invitation Come Jesus Christ loves and desires close communion with the Righteous in that day of his Royal Glory when he bids others Depart with detestation he saith unto the Righteous Come ye Part 5. That the future reward of the Righteous is not their own purchase but their Fathers it descends to them as an Inheritance Part 6. The proper reward of the Righteous when Christ comes is a Crown and Kingdom Part 7. The Righteous receive their Commission for taking and possessing the Kingdom from the immediate Mouth and Throne of Christ at his second Coming Part 8. The reward of the Saints is a prepared and made-ready Glory they shall not stay for it Part 9. This Kingdom Rule and Glory was prepared properly directly and particularly for the Righteous and none else Part 10. Preparation of Glory for Saints was one of the first great and chief Concerns of Almighty God before the World was made Now all these Parts are very worthy to be largely treated on but it will not suit with the title of the Book so
fain fasten upon his Disciples minds in order to the duty of vvatchfulness and therefore we have it repeated over again and again you may see Math. 24. three times in that Chapter ver 36. But of that day and hour knoweth no man ver 42. Ye know not what hour your Lord doth come ver 44. In such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh Mark 13.32 33. This is a secret lockt up in the breast of the Father alone this is not known to Angels no not to Christ himself but the Father only ver 36. therefore when Christs Disciples would have known the time Christ only gives them predictions and forerunners not a precise time and when the Disciples asked Christ again Act. 1.7 it is not saith he for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath kept in his own hands Quest But why may not Christs Disciples know the day and hour and why is it so inculcated upon them as aforesaid First Because he would not have persons pry into it God would not have man to pry into this secreâ— of Christs Second coming Deut. 29.19 Secreâ— things belong to God this is one of them There hath been a double evil amongst men in the Apostles times concerning his coming some put the day too far from them as those 2 Pet 3. others brought it too near as those 2 Thes 2. now to prevent both our Lord would not have us busie our selves too nicely about it telling of us the knowledg is not attainable Secondly It is thus reiterated and inculcated the uncertainty of Christ coming that we might always be ready for it this is the scope of our Text therefore persons in general have their deaths concealed that they may with Job all their appointed time wait till their change come The Thief doth not use to tell when he will come which calleth upon the house-holder to be always ready and provided for him which is Christs Argument to his Disciples Object But doth not Christ seem to intimate Luk. 21.30 31 32. that his disciples may as easily know his coming and day as the Husbandman may know when Summer is near I Answer he may know the season in general not the day or hour so a man that grows grey may judge death is near but he knows not the day nor hour nor you neither in which he shall dye so we in like manner may judge our Lords coming is not far off this day by those forerunners which are as the grey hairs preceeding a mans death Vse We have two things implyed in this verse First That Christ comes when he cometh suddainly Secondly When he comes he comes as the Son of man the consideration of both which may be profitable to us that we may so look for him First As coming suddenly Secondly As coming as the Son of man So I have done with the thirteenth verse and with the first Parable The Parable of the Talents c. We now proceed to vers 14 15. For the Kingdom of Heaven is as a man travelling into a far Country who called unto him his own Servants and delivered unto them his goods 15. verse And unto one he gave five Talents to another two and to another one to every one according to his several ability and straightway took his Journey Our Lord Jesus was much affected with this parabolical speaking when he was on earth we find him laying down eight Parables in one Sermon of his Mat. 13. if we take in one omitted by Mat. taken in by Mark 4.26 and indeed he was so frequent in this kind of speaking that it is said vvithout a parable spake he not Mat. 13.34 and he knevv this vvas a profitable speaking no vvay like this to insinuate and command the Judgment and affections There are tvvo original vvords to signifie a parable the first vvord as the learned tells us signifies to rule or to govern as a Prince others derive the original vvord vvhich vve render parable from a Root vvhich signifies to be liâ—e or make like 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vvhich agreeth vvith the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 parable therefore this was the very vvay that Nathan took vvith David vvhen he had sinned by the Parable of the Evve Lamb 2 Sam. 12. this ruled him and overcame him Every Parable is made up of three Circumstances First The Rind or bark the vvord in vvhich it is spoken Secondly The root and occasion of it Thirdly The moral and application of it vvhich is the chief thing that vve are to inquire after in 〈◊〉 Parable vvhat it teacheth us We are novv come to our Lords second Parable contained in this Chapter vvhich is the Parable of the Talents repeated also by Luk. chap. 19. And this Parable seems to rise from a double root if vve take in Luke vvhich is a Parallel place to this in Luk. 19. Christ seems to ansvver to a secret thought arising in their hearts from somevvhat forespoken by our Lord from vvhence they gathered that his Kingdom should immediately appear see Luk. 19.11 vvhich to take off he tells them he must first take a great Jouney to receive it Secondly Taking this Parable according to our Context Mat. 25. the great scope and design of it is to provoke to industry in his absence If any should question or be at a loss in themselves for what cause the foolish Virgins were excluded Christ doth in this following Parable powerfully assert that the ground of their loss and disappointment lay here that they did not improve the stock committed to them to trade with for idleness not for spending but hiding what thy were intrusted with The Kingdom of Heaven These words are not in the original in most Copies extant yet it may be judged a rational and necessary supplement because it agrees with the first verse of this Chapter and is the preface of most other Parables see Mat. 13. Kingdom of Heaven it is that unto which those things may answer But I shall omit speaking unto this preface partâ—y because I have spoken to it before upon ver 1. and partly because it is not in the original Text. We now proceed to the words which are a Parable and in this Parable we have eight circumstances considerable First The Journey taken Secondly The end for which according to Luk. 19. Thirdly We have the house set in order for his absence Fourthly We have the behaviour of his Servants in his absence Fifthly We have the return of the Master Sixthly The reckoning called for by the Master Seventhly The reward of the industrious and faithful Eightly The severe punishment of the slothful Servant These are the considerable parts of this Parable which I shall speak unto as I proceed But before I come closely to this Parable give me leave to inquire into these four things relating to this Parable First Who is this man Secondly What is this Journey Thirdly Who be these Servants Fourthly What are the
What is this long time Thirdly Who are intended by those Servants Fourthly What here is to be understood by reckoning First This coming of Christ must be understood of his real personal coming therefore it is said 1 Thess 4. the Lord himself shall descend As the kingdom that Christ receives is a real kingdom properly understood so is Christ a real proper and personal King this kingdom was given him before his Ascension as we have it Math. 28. and last All power in Heaven and Earth is given to me But we must make a difference between a kingdom given and a kingdom received a Person may have a Legacy given him by Will several years before he do actually possess it and so it is here It is a certain truth that when Christ hath received this kingdom he is submitted unto by all Nations and People they shall serve and obey him Christ in this his return must needs be in as real a state as when he went away Act. 1.11 As ye see me go So I come again in a Visible appearance Rev. 1.7 every Eye shall see him not a spiritual invisible appearance or coming as some would have it in the Spirit but a real coming such as shall amaze his enemies those that are his enemies shall call for the Rocks to hide them from the sight of him Rev. 6. But what is this long time I answer First It may properly be called a long time in its self from his Ascension to his second Coming as I said before near 2000 years Secondly A long time as considered to Man considered many generations passe in this time Thirdly A long time as with respect to his faithful Servants longing desires they think it long they think the Bridegroom tarrys but how shall we reconcile this long time with a little while commonly set out by Heb. 10.38 Yet a little while and he shall come so Iohn 16.17 A little while and I will see you again I answ Sometimes a little and a long time is understood as to God-ward a little time with God is a long time with Man this St. Peter seems to argue 2 Pet. 3.9 The Lord is not slack as some men countslackness Men count it a long time but a 1000 years with God is but as one day so here according as men count it is a long time but all things with God are present Secondly It is a long time comparatively understood long in comparison of the time after such and such things shall appear then it is but a little time After this manner Christ speaks Ioh. 16. When the Churches sorrows are at the highest and sharpest then it is but a little before Christ comes see Hab. 2.4 compared with Heb. 10.37 when such thangs appear then yet a little time and he that shall come will come so must it be understood Luk. 21.31 Then it is near even at the door The third thing to be inquired after who are those Servants intended called here those Servants I answer By those are to be understood the Servants indefinitely considered for this is a relation to Verse fourteenth called there his own Servants indefinitely considered such as he had intrusted with his substance those Servants Fourthly What is this reckoning with them this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is drawn from a word that signifies to speak or reason and some render it speaking with them some to reason with them And indeed Christs reckoning with them is only a fair reasoning with them as we see by the following Verses for our Lord admits of a reply the Servant speaks in his own defence as long as he hath a word to speak and then out of his own mouth Christ condemns him for every mouth must be stopped and all the World shall become guilty before God as we may see in the Parable of the Labourers Math. 20.18 see there how Christ reasons with them Friend I do thee no wreng didst not thou agree with me for a penny So here did I not find thee slack thou wert only required to put it forth thou didst herein but venture mine not thy own thus Christ reckoneth with them or reasoneth rather Before I proceed I shall sum up the matter of this Text into â— Doctrines 1 Doct. That although it may seem long first yet Jesus Christ shall come again though his journey be far and long yet his return is sure and certain After a long time the Lord of those Servants cometh 2 Doct. That Jesus Christ in his next and second coming cometh cloathed with dominion he cometh as the Lord of those Servants 3 Doct. One of the great and first businesses propounded by Christ to be entred upon at and in his next coming is to reckon reason and deal with his own Servants Though he will judge the World yet he doth begin at his own House first As the Servants of Christ are raised first 1 Cor. 15. Rev. 20 so they shall be judged first this is a certain truth But for brevity sake I shall in the handling of the first Doctrine endeavour to draw in these two latter Doctrines if I can This great truth of Christs second coming hath been richly placed upon the hearts of Gods people from the beginning of the World This return of Christ was seen of Enoch who lived in the beginning of the World he prophesied of his second coming See the Testimony of the Apostle Iude Behold the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his Saints This the Prophet Zachary prophesieth of Zac. 14.5 The Lord my God shall come and all the Saints with thee This St. Paul to the Thessalonians speaketh of see 1 Thess 3. c. 4. c. 5. And it is observable that more than twenty times our Lord hints and foretells his second coming again before he went away As we may find in Matthew Mark Luke Iohn it was frequent with Christ before he went to foretell his coming And that from these reasons First Because this was a rich truth therefore it dwelt richly upon Christs heart he did not go away as not to come again â—he knew well for his exaltation that where he suffered he should come again and be glorified out Lord was willing to leave this truth upon record as from himself as well as from his Prophets before Secondly This truth our Lord is very careful to assert and strengthen as well knowing that this would be a truth much questioned and doubted by his Disciples and opposed and mocked at by enemies The Disciples and Servants of Christ intend little less Luk. 12.45 when they say their Lord delays his coming and thereupon fall to beating their fellow Servants and eating and drinking with the drunken and what doth it import less when it is so often said that Christ shall come in a day when they are not aware nor look not for him and the World in general are destitute of faith in this second coming of Christ this St. Peter foresaw 2 Pet. 3.9 they mock and
it may bring forth more Fruit. This I have toucht upon before Part. 5. Jesus Christ is pleased even to delight in an industrious improving Soul Jesus Christ is herein like a frugal man in the world he loves to see his tenants and Servants thrive under him The Spirit of Paul was the same that dwelt in Christ when he was glad and rejoiced in the Thessalonians increase in Spirituals 2 Thess 1.3 That their faith groweth and their charity aboundeth This is that which the Spirit of God takes notice of in the Church of Thiatira Rev. 2 Thy last works are more than thy first And from whence doth this arise in God and Christ not because our profiting is to his own profit no we can add nothing to his glory but the love of God to his creature is such that he would have us bring forth fruit that might abound to our own account admire the goodness and dear love of Christ to his Servants Part. 6. Faithfulness and industry are in Christ's account the same thing and sloathfulness and wickedness are the same He that improves his Talents doth bear the appellation of Good and Faithful Servant We are now upon the industrious Servant he had traded to advantage and he is Faithful Faithfulness is a proper qualification in a Servant that he be found faithful is required in a Steward 1 Cor. 4.2 that is that he makes a distribution to each according to their several needs Luke 12.42 He is a Faithful Steward that gives them meat in due season Use A sloathful Servant of Christ can never be reckoned faithful Sloathfulness is no such small sin as some take it to be there is a curse pronounced by God against a sloathful person Jer. 48. that doth the work or business of the Lord negligently A faithful Servant hath these three properties First He is diligent in his business in which he is intrusted Secondly he aims and designes his Masters profit in all he does Thirdly he stands up for his Masters Name and Credit in what he does A good and faithful Servant answers to all these Part. 7. Christ's usual way is to try his Servants with a little first All that he intrusts his Servants in this world though never so large intrustments are but small and few things in comparison of what they shall be trusted with hereafter there are true riches to commit to his faithful Servants Luke 16.10 11 12. The intrustments here are called the least things and he that is unfaithful in these least shall not be intrusted with much O then Consider that thy future intrustment depends upon thy present improvement of what thou hast committed to thee whether it be Wisdom Riches or any other Gift thou hast those Gifts only for a tryal and thou art now only in the Tryal thou must be tryed before thou be trusted more Part. 8. Is the Use of this Be assured that the well-improvement of a little shall certainly bring in abundance To him that hath shall be given he shall have abundance as we have it Mat. 25.29 we have a double shall to confirm the truth of this Part. 9. Jesus Christ rewards his faithful Servants with Rule and Government Be thou over ten Cities And that this is properly and really to be taken is plentifully proved from other Scriptures Dan. 7.27 The Kingdom under the whole Heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high And in several other Scriptures But I shall meet with this more fully afterwards This reward is a very great reward in Christ's esteem sufficient to requite his Servants for all their saithfulness and industry Part. 10. The state will be a state of very great Joy called here the Master's Joy a state of unspeakable joy Sometimes this state of Joy comprehends all good as sorrow comprehends all evil See an eminent place to this purpose Isa 35.10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with songs and everlasting Joy upon their heads they shall obtain in and gladness and sorrow and sighings shall flee away This I have according to my promise only touched these ten Parts and so I have done with the 20 21 22 23. verses We now proceed to the 24th verse and it is altogether necessary that we do at once cast our eye upon these seven verses 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 at once because they all together make up the whole proceeding of Christ with the sloathful Servant 24. Then he which had received the one Talent came and said Lord I knew thee that thou art aâ— hard man reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not strawed 25. And I was afraid and went and â—id thy Talent in the Earth lo there thou hast that is thine 26. His Lord answered and said unto him Thou wicked and sloathful Servant thou knowest that I reap where I sowed not and gathered where I strawed not 27. Thou oughtest therefore to have put thy money to the exchangers and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury 28. Take therefore the Talent from him and give it unto him which hath ten Talents 29. For unto every one that hath shall be given and he shall have abundance but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath 30. And cast ye the unprofitable Servant into utter darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth That which remains to be handled as to the winding up of this second Parable is that remarkable passage relating to the sloathful and unprofitable Servant which was him who had received the one Talent a relation of whom we have contained in these â— verses the whole whereof divides it self into three Parts First the Servant's Answer Plea and Defence Secondly the Lord's ill-resentment and dissatisfaction thereat Thirdly his proceeding thereupon Now for order's Sake I shall speak to these heads distinctly and First the Servant's Answer Plea and Defence An Answer I call it because it must be implyed that his Lord in his reckoning with him propounds a double Question First What hast thou received Secondly What improvement hast thou made This first Part contains verse 24.25 in which verses we have his Confession and Concision with his Lord that he had received one Talent Secondly We have him as formerly acknowledging that he had made no improvement and he seems to six the foot and foundation of his non-improvement upon his Lord namely his Lord's austerity and severity the fence and knowledg whereof begat fear in him which fear disinabled him bound up his hands took away his heart hindred his industry and in short all the whole fault of his miscarrying in this affair is wholly laid upon his Lord even as our father Adam at first did Gen. 3. And all this evil is founded upon a mistake of the nature and Justice of his Lord as first he chargeth his Lord with hardness or austerity according to
then it is that Judgment is given to the Saints then from that time the Saints possess the Kingdom So Psal 49. The Just shall have dominion in the morning And this is plain from what St. Paul speaks Col. 3.4 When Christ who is our life shall appear 2 Thess 1.7 The Saints were to have Rest when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels As also our Text is plain And it cannot be rationally thought that the Saints shall have Kingdom before Christ they are not to expect it before Him the Reign of the Saints is contemporary with Christ's neither can it be supposed that they shall have it before they have past Christ's Bar and are acquitted by Him Therefore St. Paul exhorts the Church to judge nothing before the time and that is when Christ shall appear when every man shall have praise of God This Part doth instruct us in the greatness and compleatness of the Saints Reward What can be compleater and greater than a Crown and Kingdom Is it not the ultimate of all aims and endeavours of this World the highest of all Attainments on Earthâ— is a Kingdom Therefore this was the saying of Saul concerning David when the people sung of him in the dances Saul hath slain his thousands and David his ten thousands and saith Saul what can he have more but the Kingdom Be therefore affected with the greatness of this Reward This Consideration might serve to satisfie a righteous Person in the lowest condition they can be brought into in this world the contemplation of this Glory this is the root of the twenty four Elders Song Rev. 5. Thou hast made us unto our God Kings and Priests and we shall reign on the Earth and you that are interessed in it upon good grounds long for it it is not unwarrantable it is but like Christ who sits at God's right hand expecting looking waiting till he make his foes his footstool And labour to walk worthy of this Kingdom and Glory which that ye may do observe these rules 1. Labour to be loose from this present World This is the proper use that Christ makes of the same premises Luke 12.32 33. Sell what you have give al â—s 2. Rejâ—ice in hope of this glory Rom. 5. Rom. 12. 3. Do not make haste unwarrantably towards this Kingdom 4. Do not envy at the prosperity of the wicked thâ—u hast no cause to envy at their state See how pertinently David doth urge this Psal 37. throughout Part. 8. That the Reward of the Saints is a prepared made ready Glory the Kingdom is prepared In handling this Part I shall 1. shew how the Scriptures elsewhere speak in this language 2. what is intended in this kind of speaking and so make the application Briefly That the glory of the Saints is prepared see Esa 64.4 Men have not seen nor heard what God hath prepared for them that wait for him which St. Paul recites 1 Cor. 2.9 only differs the word wait into love him We have David speaking in this language Psal 31.19 That this Kingdom is prepared for some out Lord seems to grant in his reply to the mother of Zebedees Sons Math. 20.11 It shall be given saith he to them for whom it is prepared But what is Comprehended in this saying prepared I Answer first it sets forth the certainty of it Because to be prepared ordained and established is the same in Scriptures Isa 30. where we have these two made convertible teâ—rms ordained prepared spoken of â—ophet And so may that place be understood as I shewed before Rom. 9.23 this was ordained established for you 2. To make ready or prepare supposeth a proportioning or making fit or suitable 3. To make a thing by Skill and Art as Noah's Ark is said to be prepared that is by pains and art Heb. 11. he prepared an Ark or framed an Ark. So God framed this Kingdom 4. To prepare is to beautifie and adorn and thus the new Jerusalem is said to be prepared as a bride adorned for her husband Rev. 21. Take only this word by the way Consider your inheritance is ready for you do you labour to be ready for that it is made ready for thee in particular and none else the Righteous only with Christ exclusive of all others it was prepared for them that are righteous only And this was shadowed out in the choice qualifications of those first to be Rulers Exod. 18. the counsel of Jeâ—hrâ— to Moses They must be men fearing God and hating Covetousness 2 Sam. 23.3 They that rule over men must be Just must be Righteous and it was more eminently held forth in chose Judges set up by God in the second age of the world when God himself is said to be their King 1 Sam. 12.12 but as a Just punishment 〈◊〉 their Sin God suffered them to go out of this path But all the while that the unrighteous Rule David tells us that the Foundation of the earth are out of course Psal 75. Psal 82. which are plain to this But how will it be when it is in course Daniel tells us chap. 7.18 22 27. four times exprest the Rule and Dominion shall be in the Saints not Saints in their own or other mens thoughts but Saints and righteous so reckoned and allowed possess the Kingdom prepared for you saith Christ with an emphasis whom I acquit at my bar for Saints By way of Use I only leave this one word of Information We may from hence be satisfied of the infallible certainty of the righteous inheriting it is prepared ordained and appointed for thee and all the Devils in hell cannot turn it aside This the prophet Isaiah foresaw Chap. 24 he heard songs from the utmost parts of the earth glory to the righteous the House of the righteous shall be exalted Psal 75. last Part. 10. The 10th and last Part respects the antiquity of this Provision it was provided for the Righteous before the Foundations of the World the Part was this That the reward of the righteous was one of those first and most weighty concerns that was upon the heart of God before the world was made There are no things said to take their beginnings from hence but great and weighty things things ordained appointed effected before the Foundation of the world are things of weight God the Father loved Christ before the Foundation of the World Joh. 17. the Saints are chosen in Christ before the Foundation of the World Christ was appointed a Sacrifice for sin a Lamb slain before the Foundation of the World 1 Pet. 1.20 the Rest and eternal Reward before oâ— the Saints was prepared and finished amongst these weighty Concerns before or from the foundation of the world Heb. 4.3 One word of Use and so I shall close this verse From hence we may see and perceive a glimps of the unspeakable happy state of righteous persons they were the Subjects for whom Jehovah was at work before the world
proper Servants to them he commits his goods 4 Doct. That Christs intrustments with such hiâ— Servants are very great and weighty set out bâ— Talents five times 187 to one Servant twice 18 to a Second once 187 to the lowest called according to the Greek his substance or goods 5 Doct. That there are left by Christ in his houâ— sufficient gifts and abilities for the effectual carrying on and management of his affairs in his housâ— in his absence Though Christ be in Heaven yeâ— he is greatly concerned as to his house on Earth that his trade and business be well managed theâ— is no want of means in order to the compleating his work 6 Doct. That every Persons gifts and abilitiâ— from Christ are not the same though Christ own Servants some are intrusted more some less some twice as much as others this may not be a ground of discouragement to Persons so intrusted 7 Doct. In giving gifts Christ hath an eye to Persons abilities it is said to every man according to their abilities some cannot use or manage what others can the Porter had not the same abilities as the Steward or Ruler of the Family 8 Doct. The whole concerns of Christ in the World are committed into the handâ— of Christs own Servants resident in his house or Church would you trade for Christ or Glory apply your selves to his house there are his Correspondents If any have Ears to hear let them hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches 9 Doct. The very highest Christians stock in heavenly affairs is not their own it is but lent by Christ therefore they have no cause to boast as if they had not received it therefore Christ is but said â—o receive his Own with Vsury ver 27. it is his own and the product of his own 10 Doct. That Jesus Christ upon this Journey reposeth great trust in his Servants no sooner had Christ committed his substance to his Servants but straightway took his Journey he is so satisfied in what he hath done Now I might speak distinctly to each of these Doctrines and indeed they are all very well worth our consideration but I study brevity therefore I shall speak two words First One to Christ's House Secondly One word to those who are not yet of Christs house But before I come to speak particularly to these let me Answer one Question Who or what people are Christ's house here on earth Answ Baptized Believers are Christs house they were those with whom he left his orders with when he went away and must needs be so so still and it is strange any should question this truth were not all Christs Servants brought into his house this way Is not this Christs Law to all his Servants Read but seriously the proceedings of Christs own Servants immediately after the Master was gone Act. 2.47 by Baptism The Lord added to his Church daily such as should be saved and who hath had power from Christ since to alter this his way But I design brevity As an exposition I shall only speak a few words by way of Use to the whole of the former Doctrines Vse First To Christs house consider that though your Master be in Heaven yet his Eye is over you continually he searcheth the heart and tryeth the reins of his Churches therefore dâ— all things in his house in his fear Secondly Do all in his name by his poweâ— and authority in his house Do not all the Miâ—â—sters or Servants in the furthest part of this King Dominions act in his name in what they doâ— and it is as powerful and binding as if he did 〈◊〉 himself in Person even so whatever Christs Seâ—vants do according to their Commission he owâ—eth it and it is as if he had done it himself seâ— Math. 18. about Excommunication it is bounâ— in Heaven Thirdly Receive all your rules orders and directions in the management of the affairs in hiâ— house from his orders left with you for though he is at a great distance the house is his he is you Master and Lord and head of his Church Fourthly Let every one in Christ's house observe their work stand where Christ hath set them be subject to those whom Christ hath given authority for he hath given authority to his Servant Mark 13. Some are made rulers to give the reâ— their Meat in due season and in disobeying theâ— in lawful Commands you disobey Christ Math. 10.40 He that receiveth you receiveth mâ— and he that rejecteth Christs Servants in place rejecteth him 2 Vse To those not yet of Christs house First Have a special care of slighting Christâ— house or Servants because the Master is not with them all slights and injuries to them is taken as iâ— to their Master and highly provoking to him Secondly If you would know any thing concerning the mind of Christ repair to his house he hath left his mind there and thither he sends aâ— that want instructions and help heaven-ward see in the business of Saul though Christ spoke from heaven to him Act. 9. he doth not direct him from thence in particular but sendeth him to the City to receive directions from Ananias and sends Ananias to Saul so it was in the case of Cornelius Act. 10. Christ sends him to St. Peter that he might receive directions from him not now from the Master but the Servants belonging to the house 3 Vse Know this that what rules and orders Christ gave to and left with his Church is for the whole time of his absence and he looks to find his house in the same order he left it in when he went away therefore in the two great Ordinances of the Gospel Baptism and the Lords Supper we find their Period at Christs return at the end of the World Math. 28.20 I am with you in Baptizing to the end of the World 1 Cor. 11.26 Ye remember the Lords death till he come the Church and house of Christ hath its being in all Ages Eph. 3.21 therefore if you have an Ear to hear you are to hear what the Spirit saith to the Church in this day as well as formerly in that day immediately after his Ascension to Heaven know this that all the visible power that Christ hath in the World at this day is only that power he hath in his Church and know also whatever you may think that the Church is the only receptacle of Persons in order to happiness and glory hereafter Christ gathers from thence those that shall be eternally rewarded and enter into their Masters Joy well Christ is yet upon his Journey but his return draws near So I have briefly done with the 14 and 15 Verses We now come to verse 16. Then he that haâ—â— received the five Talents went and traded with thâ— same and made them other five Talents 17. verse And likewise he that received two gained also other tuâ— 18. verse But he that received one went and diggeâ— in the earth and hid his Lords money
In these three verses we have contained the behaviour of Christs own Servants who were intrusted with his goods in his absence which was the fourth head propounded as to this Parable into eight particular heads First The Journey taken Secondly The end to receive a Kingdom Thirdly The settling his house in order for hiâ— Journey Fourthly The carriage and behaviour of his Servants in his absence Fifthly The Lords return Sixthly The account required Seventhly The reward given to the industrious Eighthly The certain reward given to the slothful Cast him into utter darkness there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth ver 30. I have already shewn from the former heads that our Lord Christ did at once at his going away settle his house in such order as he would have it abide in in his absence and requires to find it when he comes again Now in this fourth head we have a relation Parabolicall from Christs Infallible foresight and knowledgâ— of the proceedings and carriages of his Servants his own peculiar Servants when he is gone as to the improvement of their Masters estate in their hands that they kept house is taken for granted they did not throw the doors off the hooks and dissolve house keeping this is not by Christ supposed they will do in his absence but they kept his house and their evil was that they were not universally faithful and industrious some were eye Servants and were lazy in their masters absence As in the former Parable we find in one Society wise and foolish Virgins so here in his house shall be found faithful and wise slothful and foolish Servants as afterwards we find Goats amongst the Sheep and must be severed when Christ himself the great Shepherd shall come Our Lord himself who knew what was in man intrusted some who afterwards proved very bad idle and slothful fearful and unbelieving We know that amongst Christs Servants in his absence amongst his twelve there was one intrusted who was unfaithful Judas by name Have not I chosen you twelve and one of you saith Christ is a Devil a wicked covetous person a Son of perdition This preface may teach two sorts of persons two lessons First Those who are observers of Church members do not condemn the Church or house of Christ because there are bad persons in it a very good Master may have very bad Servants especially in his absence it is no certain rule to judg the way by the persons that own it no though Preachers there may be such it is not sufficient to judge by you read Mat. 13. in the Parable of the Drag-net there are brought in bad and good and the time to sever is when the Lord comes who shall reveal the hidden things of darkness Secondly To Church members Christs Servants this consideration may serve to awaken and rouze them to inquire into their estate and not to trust to their Church membership as if that would secure them Some especially Preachers are apt to think they are owned and approved by God to be faithful because intrusted with the work of Preaching we see that some that prophesied in Christs name cast out Devils are condemned by him to the lowest place and severest punishments Before I come to speak to these three verses I shall explain two words in our Text First what is here to be understood by trading Secondly What by money I Ans First in general the whole is a Parable the design of which is to set out Heavenly things by earthly therefore it is no wonder though Christ speaks like men in earthly affairs of money and trading Sometimes it is taken for bodily labour the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 translated traded is drawn from a Root that signifies business buying selling negotiating in merchandizing and commonly taken for merchandizing for it is not so properly labour of body though sometimes so taken as labour of body and mind but as I said before it is most properly taken for buying and selling so taken in Josephs instructions to his Brethren see Gen. 46.32 33. their trade hath been in Cattel or as the Heb. men of Cattel such as bought sold and bred up Cattel such as we call Grasiers so Eze. 27. it is plain that buying and selling in Fairs is called trading So it must be understood Rev. 18. All that trade by Sea So that when Christ saith here they went and traded he alludeth to Traffick to profit not only labour as a Horse or fool but continuance in it with design of mind to gain Our Lords great design in these three verses is to provoke and stir up his Servants to industry the word money is derived from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 pecunia hath affinity with the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Coin that passes among men of Gold Silver brass or Leather if it pass in buying sometimes it is applyed to goods Household-stuff and the like it is another word Gen. 17.12.31.15.42.25 Exod. 21.21 Where the Servants is said to be his money 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 argentum called goods or substance before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That which may stand by it self a single Lot or part But what is this money that he hid I Ans That which his Master intrusted him with to trade with his Talent whatever his gift was for it is spoken in a borrowed speech money because that men trade with But for our more orderly proceeding I shall summ up the whole in these three verses into these five Doctrines 1 Doct. That our Lord Jesus Christ hath a trade going and managed in his absence he went and traded 2 Doct. All Christs good and faithful and acceptable Servants are traders or Merchant men men of business 3 Doct. That Christs trade the Heavenly trade well managed turns to great profit to Master and Servant 4 Doct. All Christs gifts or Talents are given for use as well the least as the greatest 5 Doct. There are some of Christs own intrusted Servants who do not improve what they receive The first of these Doctrines I shall pass by because I have spoken to it before only remember I then spoke of it as Christs appointment but now as their answer they went and traded these are faithful and are found following their Masters directions as we have it Luk. 19.13 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 negotiamini occupate till come as before to Traffick in Merchandizing 2 Doct. That all Christs faithful acceptable Servants are traders This appears because they are all liable to account Christ when be comes calleth all to account what they had gained by trading Luk. 19.15 and he that had received one â—alent as well as he that had received five St. Paul reckons himself and those with him Phil. 3.20 traders this way driving a Heavenly trade Our Conversation is in Heaven the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 business freedom of trade imports Commerce with a correspondent at a distance we have liberty of trade as Freemen That which I shall