which is to perswade not simply to watchfulnesse but to continuance and perseverance in it from a prudent foresight of the coming of Christ. 1. The Parable it self is set down agreeable to the custom of those times wherein our Saviour lived wherein their Marriages were usually celebrated in the night time she that was the Bride was attended with sundry Virgins to meet the Bridegroom these Virgins it being night season took therefore their Lamps with them those that were ready and met the Bridegroom were admitted to the Marriage-Room and Supper those that came after that time if once the doors were shut weresurely kept out though they knockt hard to come in All this those who are acquainted with Iewish Histories and customs know to be true which we are to attend because it gives not a little light to the true and genuine explication of this Parable In which Parable note these two parts 1. The Churches preparation to meet with Christ called here the Bridegroom from the 1 to the 5 vers 2. The Bridegroom 's coming forth to meet them from the 5 to the 12 vers SECT III. The first part of the Parable FIrst I shall speak of the preparation made by the Church to meet with Christ Jesus Wherein also note these three things 1. The place where this preparation is made viz. in the Kingdom of Heaven vers 1. 2. The time when it shall be made set down in the first word Then v. 1. 3. The persons that shall make this preparation they shall not be corrupted Members of degenerate Churches where mens profession is grown foul through length of wearing but they are Professors of some eminent strain some whereof are truly sincere others secretly unsound And there is a double desription of them 1. From some things wherein they all agree 2. From some other particulars wherein they manifestly differ First Those things wherein they all agree are three 1. They are all Virgins Virgin-Professors 2. They were all awake and watchful for some time ready to meet the Bridegroom and hence it it is said They took their Lamps 3. They all had so much Faith as to go out to meet the Bridegroom Secondly Those things wherein they did differ are 1. Generally five were wise and five were foolish v. 2. 2. Specially the foolish took Lamps but no Oyl the wise did both v. 3 4. This is the rude draught of this first part of the Parable the sum whereof is this That the state of the Members of some Churches about the time of Christ's coming shall be this they shall not be openly prophane corrupt and scandalous but Virgin-Professors awakened for some season out of carnal security stirring lively Christians not preserving their Chastity and Purity meerly in a way of works but waiting for Christin a Covenant of Grace only some of these and a good part of these shall be indeed wise stored with spiritual wisdom filâ—'d with the power of Grace but others of them and a great part of them too shall be found foolish at the coming of the Lord Jesus I come therefore to handle the first Particular in this first Part viz. CHAP. II. Of the Visible Church of God SECT I. 1. THE place where this preparation to meet Christ shall be made and that is not in the Kingdoms of this world earthy Kingdoms but in the Kingdom of Heaven and therefore'tis said The Kingdom of Heaven shall be like c. I will not trouble you with telling you how many waies the Kingdom of Heaven is taken in Scripture by Kingdom of Heaven here is not meant the Kingdom of Glory in the third Heaven for there shall be no foolish Virgins at all there no unclean thing shall enter thither nor by it is meant the head of this Kingdom viz. Christ Jesus for how can he be like to ten Virgins nor by it is meant the Gospel of the Kingdom which Mat. 13. is call'd the Kingdom of Heaven and compared to a draw-net for how can it be like unto ten Virgins nor yet the internal Kingdom of grace set up in the heart of every believer which is called a grain of Mustard-seed Mat. 13. for how can any foolish Virgins be there or what share have they in that Therefore I conceive 't is clear that by the Kingdom of Heaven here is meant the external Kingdom of Christ in this world that is the visible Church or the estate of the visible Church which is frequently called in Scripture the Kingdom of Heaven as Mat. 8. 12. 21. 43. In which Kingdom some are wise some foolish all professe Christ look for the coming of Christ for salvation from Christ the estate of this visible Church shall be like ten Virgins SECT II. AND hence I shall note this one thing That the visible Church of God on earth especially in the times of the Gospel is the Kingdom of Heaven upon earth For look upon the face of the whole earth there you may see the Kingdoms of men and the Kingdom of Satan sin and death which the Apostle saith Rom. 5. reigâ—eth over all men here is only the Kingdom of Heaven upon earth viz. in the visible Church 't is not the place only which makes either Heaven or Hell though there is a place for both but the state principally makes both one may be in Hell upon earth as Christ was in his bitter agony and a man may be in a kind of Heaven upon earth as Christ tels his hearers that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand a man may be under the Kingdom of Satan and darknesse upon earth Col. 1. 13. which is a kind of Hell and why not as well under the Kingdom of God on earth which is a kind of Heaven especially I say now under the Gospel wherein the Lord hath begun to fulfil that which was but only promised under the Old Testament to be fulfilled in the fourth and last Monarchy Dan. 2. 44 in the time of the New In the state of Christ's visible Church which should by little and little beat down all other Kingdoms of the world SECT III. 1. BEcause the same King that is reigning in Heaven is reigning here is present here Psa. 2. 6. And here the Saints are commanded to rejoyce to shout and to be glad with all their hearts because of the presence of this their King among them Zeph. 3. 14 15. 'T is true indeed he is King over all the world the immediate execution of all Gods common as well as special providence is put into the hand of this King the Lord Jesus But as for his Enemies and other creatures he reignes over them as a King of power but he reignes not for them also as a King of Grace and love for thus he reignes among his people in his Church Deut. 33. 26 27. The Lord is present with every one of his people severally but much more joyntly when two or three of them are met together in his Name 2.
stint the Lord Either do more give more or mourn you cannot Oh one life one heart is too little for him It hath put me to sad fears of many mens estates to see this frame a world of sin without measure every day where is the Christian that loves the Lord the more every day how can any then say much is forgiven when they do not love much 7. He loves thee now in Glory there hath prepared a place for thee Iohn 14. 1 2 3. where he longâ— for thee Iohn 17. 24. You know Pharaoh's Butler when exalted to his place forgot poor Ioseph One would think now the Lord Jesus is in Glory and hath God and Angels and his Kingdom to content him he should never look after such a worm such a poor helplesse creature as thee But as the High Priest carried the Names on his breast and precious stones so the Lord Jesus hath thy Name writ upon his very heart Oh now love him when he exalts thee to Glory to give thee the Kingdom of Heaven on earth with peace and quietnesse When Germany lies in blood and Eastern Churches slain by the Dragon devoured by the Turk when Englands lights and lamps are going out no people have such peace such glory in so small a time Beloved now where is love The Churches of Christ never lost their love so much as when they had their peace and have been 1600 years a learning by Aâ—flictions and Persecutions hâ—w to enjoy their peace and to have their love smell as sweet then as when beâ—â—en most and yet have not but like the Globe without the Crosse in the Emblem rolling and running farther and faâ—ther from God In Cruce quies Oh unreasonable to love him least whom he tenders most Doth not Prayer grow cold for the Name of Christ for the Churches of Christ then love grows cold Doth not plenty of means make thy soul sleight means when you went many miles to hear and had scarce bread at home Oh you thought if once you had such liberties but when they are made yours now what fruit Dost not fall in affections to Saints Oh love dies Christ deals not so with thee and who knows but in Rocks and Mountains of the Wildernesse thou maist lament these evils which peace breed now 8. He loves thee so as when any evil toucheth thee he hath a feeling of it and is grieved at it Iud. 10. 16. Isai. 63. 9. nay he then comforts thee most both in them and by them Iohn 14. 27. Not as the world gives peace so give I it to you Oh then grieve thou for those evils that betide him the wrongs that others offer him but especially the unkindnesse thy own Soul shews him Mark 5. 3. He mourned for the hardnesse of their heart Eph. 4. 29 30. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth and grieve not the Holy Ghost Heb. 3. 10. Forty years long was I grieved because they erred I confesse you will wrong him but will you must you be impenitent too Did his enemies grieve him on earth and shall his Friends grieve him in Heaven and no sorrows no secret tears he hath shed his Blood for thy sin it shall never condemn and wilt not thou shed tears Is there no good Nature But what is there no spirit of mourning It may be many a day and week hast thou grieved him and not a sigh to any purpose to ease thee of thy sin but what hath eased thee in thy sin Oh now comfort his heart again after thou hast most grieved him comfort his Spirit that is dying sighing in thee as he comforts thee by thy troubles comfort him by making a right use of all thy sins to be more humble more vile to love him the more and love thy self the lesse as the Prodigal Son Luke 15. 18 20 24. 9. He loves thee so that though he departs he will not doth not stay long from thee though you may think it long Isai. 54. 7. Hence it 's wonder to see when heart gone love lost life lost yet suddenly thou art brought down on thy knees Oh 't is the Lord that doth it Thou wast in sorrow of heart he did not stay long but came and comforted thee thou wast in thy sins it was not long but he delivered thee thou wast in want of knowledg of him it hath not been long but that he hath revealed the Lord to thee thou hast been in afflictions and troubles it hath not been long but he hath heard thee So give him the like love I know you will fall from him in love in delight in care but do not stay long from him Sometime the baits of the world will draw thee from him when thou hast thy ease and peace Oh think it was better with me once than now when fears drive thee from him yet return 1 Sam. 12. 21 22. Oh here is that which hardens hearts breaks your peace and grieves the Lord so as he is forced to send many sad afflictions because you lie in your falls Oh be not long noâ— far from him He returns to thee when thou art most unkind to him return when he is ever kind He returns to thee though he hath no need of thee thou hast of him He will not leave thee Oh leave not him 10. He hath from before all worlds loved thee when no reason for it Ier. 31. 1 2 3. Thou hast neglected to love him long all thy youth nay it may be all thy life Oh you beloved of the Lord begin to do it now when there is all reason for it when Heaven calls for it Earth calls for it Ordinances plead for it Spirit saith come and calls for it too It may be thy life is not long What not yet But how shall I come to do this thus to love the Lord The Lord only can plant can water this Grace yet because the Lord doth it by meanes I will give you some now 1. Labour to find out the true sweetnesse and to taste the bitternesse of the deceitful sweetnesse of all Creatures for this is a rule in reason a mans affections like streams must run some way and 't is a rule in Theology stop the affections from running to the Creature and in a sincere heart it will run unto Christ Hos. 2. 6 7. if it be from all creatures Now then the affection is turned from the Creature when it finds the bitternesse of the deceiving sweetnesse of it and Secondly finds out the real sweetnesse of it for make it as a rule when a mans heart cannot love Christ unlesse it be when it is benummed 't is because he hath somewhat else to joy his heart now let the Creature yeild you no more joy and Christ hath your love indeed you may and must joy in the real sweetnesse of it and this will encrease and not diminish your love Quest. What is the real sweetnesse of the Creature Answ. Christs love Oh see
Because here are the Lawes of Heaven Heb. 12. 25. Take heed speaking of the Ministry of the Gospel in the Churches that ye refuse not to hear him who speaketh from Heaven which Lawes are not only here promulgated as they be among the enemies of this Kingdom but accepted and received also without which Lawes what Kingdom could there be Christ's Kingdom in this world is neither tyrannical nor arbitrary to govern without Law no no but if he be our King he is our Law-giver also Isa. 33. 22. Nay the same Lawes by which we shall be ruled in Heaven we have here and we are now under That as our Divines say against the Papists though before Moses his time there was not scriptio verbi yet there was verbum scriptum which the Patriarchs had before the Floud and afterward until Moses his time So I say here though in Heaven the external Letter and scription both of Law and Gospel shall be abolished because they need theâ— not when the day-star is risen 2 Pet. 1. 19. Yet the living Rules of both for substance shall remain the end of the Ministry is to bring us to the unity of Faith in a perfect estate Eph. 4. 13. Therefore Faith shall not cease when Ministers shall and that perfect man shall come Our Faith indeed shall not then by such glasses see Christ nor adhere unto Christ by such means of Promises and Ordinances as we do now but without them we shall both see and for ever adhere to him who is our King at that day and though indeed the Law is now abolished as a Covenant of life yet it shall ever remain as a Rule of life perfect subjection to it is the happinesse of Saints in Heaven 1 Ioh. 1. as a heart contrary to it is the greatest misery of the Saints on earth Rom. 7. 24. 3. Because here are the Subjects of Heaven Eph. 2. 19. Fellow-Citizens of the Saints not only on earth but as Paul speaketh Phil. 3. 20. Our conversation or as it may be rendred our free Burgesse-ship is in Heaven God himself hath canonized all the true Members of visible Churches with the name of Saints throughout the whoâ—e new Testament here are the great heirs of Heaven nay possessours of Heaven by Faith as others are by feeling as near and dear to God in some respect as those that be in Heaven already because the same motive which makes him love them makes him love these though poor abjects and our-casts of the world there is but a paper-wall of their bodies between them and Heaven only here is the difference they there are Subjects in their own countrey these here are the same Countreymen only strangers for a time here upon earth Some define a Kingdom to be dominatus regis in populum subjectum If Christ the King was present and his Laws published but there were no people to be subject to him there could be no Kingdom but when the King Laws and Subjects of Heaven are here met together in the visible Church here is now the Kingdom of Heaven 4. Because here is the very Glory of Heaven begun that look as the same Sun which fils the Stars with Glory the very same beams touch the earth also so the same Glory which shines in Heaven shines into the poor Church here 1 Pet. 5. 10. God hath called his people into his eternal Glory And 〈◊〉 30. whom Christ hath justified them he hath glorified i. e. he hath begun it here 〈◊〉 in a special manner is the presence of the Angels in Heaven Eph. 3. 10. Here the pure in heart see God and that after another manner than many times they can in their solitary condition Psal. 63. 1 2 3. And what is this but Heaven SECT IV. 1. SEE therefore hence their happiness and honour whom God hath called out of the world and planted in his Church What hath the Lord done but opened the way to the Tree of life and let you into Paradise again Nay which is more What hath he done but taken you up into the very Kingdom of Heaven it self where you have the Lord of glory to be your King the Laws of Heaven made known his heart opened where you have the heirs of Heaven your companions and the Angels of Heaven your guard desiring to look into those things which your eyes see and your hearts feel 1 Pet. 1. 12. Where you have the love of a Father appearing the Son of God inhabiting and the Spirit of Heaven comforting Lord what is man that thou art thus mindful of him That when the Lord seeth it unmeet to take you out of this world up unto Heaven that Heaven should come down into this world unto you who were once enemies to this Kingdom shut up under the Kingdom of death and darknesse strangers to the Common-wealth of Israel without God and Christ in the world without promise without hope I do not cry the Temple of the Lord nor Idolize Order and Churches but I tell you what your priviledge is and thereby what Gods goodnesse is I know the world neither seeth not feeleth any such Heaven on earth but soon grow despisers secretly of all Ordinances who if they were in Heaven it self with their carnal hearts they would not abide there with much contentment yet verily Heaven hath been and is found here by Gods hidden one even such things which eye hath not seen nor ear heard and if it be not thus with thee blame thy self and mourn the more who in the midst of light art in utter darknesse and in the place where Heaven is begun to some it should be made a little Hell to thee 2. Take heed of defiling secretly the Church of God For what do you do thereby but pollute the Kingdom of Heaven it self And the better any thing is the greater is the defilement cast upon it It is said 1. Pet. 1. 4. that the Kingdom of Heaven above is an inheritance undeâ—iled never yet the subject place where any sin was committed and this is one part of the Glory of it Take you heed of coming into Church-fellowship with defiled hearts and so defiling Gods holy things for do you know where you are I know it is not in that Heaven where you cannot sin but yet 't is in such a Heaven where you should not sin much lesse defile the Church of God It was one of Gods heavy inditements against the Church of the Iews that when the Lord had brought them out of a land of pits into a plentiful countrey yet they defiled his Land neither Priests nor people said Where is the Lord Ier. 2. 7 8. It will be much more heavy another day with you that walking in the fellowship of Gods people shall be found guilty of defiling the Kingdom of Heaven it self which you should be careful to keep as an underfiled inheritance which 〈◊〉 whether spiritual or sensual as they stain the very glory of
Heaven it self so they keep you from feeling the Truth of this Doctrine even of this Heaven upon earth in your own experience 3. Let all Members of Churches hence learn to have their conversation in Heaven and walk as men come down from Heaven and returning thither again and that are as it were already in Heaven Paul did thus and wept to see so many that did not thus but did mind earthly things Phil. 3. 19 20. Do not only forsake but even forget your Countrey and your Fathers house so shall the King of Glory desire your beauty Psal. 45. 10 11 Let the reproach of earthly-mindednesse cast upon the face of Christians be wiped off by your carriage being heavenly holy loosened from things below Art thou in Heaven with an earthly heart Is not Heaven good enough for thee Cannot that content thee which many have desired to see and could not see even the Lord Jesus the King of Glory in his beauty in the assemblies of his Saints 4. Take heed of pulling down this Kingdom Loyal Subjects will rather lose their lives than their Prince shall lose his Kingdom Fear not enemies without but your selves at home The enemies of the Church did never yet hurt the Church but the Church's sins Zach. 7. 14. Oh consider what mercy the Lord hath betrusted us withal that unlesse the Lord should carry us to Heaven it self immediatly on the wings of Angels he can shew us no greater outward favour in this world than to bring us into this his Kingdom of Heaven on earth I professe one daies fellowship here with a number of broken-hearted Christians either mourning together or rejoycing in their God and King together it our-bids the many years Glory of the whole world howsoever 't is hidden from the world And will you betray this Kingdom SECT V. Quest. VVHat are those things that may pull down this Kingdom Answ. 1. Ignorance of those sins which may hurt and ruine it There are common infirmities which all the faithful have in common for which the Lord pities his but there are some that are proper and personal to some particular persons Psal. 18. 23. for which the Lord is angry even with his own so there are some sins which are common Church-infirmities for which the Lord will not cast off his people but there are sometimes in several Churches proper Church-sins Now the Rule here is if these be not seen and lamented and removed if the Lord be angry for these as verily he will and yet they do not so much as know all this while what it is that hurts them these sins will canker the roots and blast the most flourishing Churches Ephesus Rev. 1. 4. had her sin Sardis Rev. 2. 1. had her sin Laodicea had her sins Rev. 3. 16. Now what if they never know these nor repent of these you know then Ephesus Candlestick must be removed and Laodicea shall be spued out of Christs mouth Oh this hath been the bane of Churches while they enjoyed their liberties they could not nay in truth would not know their aile in the day of Christs visitation of them and hence came their ruine the cause of which they saw not only it may be the remnant that escaped to whom the Lord shewed mercy could read their sins in their plagues It is a lamentable spectacle to behold the ruines of Germany and that after such great slaughter and effusion of blood they cannot tell the thing that hath hurt and doth still wast them 2. Self-seeking a Spirit of self Look as it is in a Kingdom if there be a common enemy and the body of the Army which should encounter with them be every man taken up and taking thought how he may preserve his own Tent and do not joyn their forces together for common safety it must perish and the Kingdom will be easily conquered Or as it is with the body if every member seeks to preserve it self alone and not that which preserves them all viz. the Head the body will drop down and die shortly Christ Jesus is the Head of this Body his Church Now 't is certain if ye seek to preserve your own name more than Christ's to give more content to your own lusts then to the will and heart of Christ if more careful of fetching feathers to your own nests and to shift for your selves and not to attend every man in his place the publick good of the Church and Christ in it 't is certain God will forsake you and all will to ruine quickly 2 Chron. 15. 1 2. Church-members of publick spirits are ever prosperous men They shall prosper that love thee Psal. 122. 6. That say in their hearts out of sense of Christ's love Lord what shall I doe for thee How may I be useful to thy people But if back and belly mine and thine be chief in request this will ruine you 3. League and Amity with the enemies of Christ's Kingdom or peace with our lusts it is not sin but a privy peace with sin and a secret quietnesse in sin which overthrowes Christ's Kingdom The Canaanites that were left alive because 't is said they could not drive them out how often did they vex and prick and yoke the Israel of God Those sins which you say you cannot part with and hence yield unto them and mourn not under them those will ruine Churches Some sins you have forsaken and could forsake the danger lies not here Wrath goeth out against Iehosaphat because he loved him who hated the Lord 2 Chron. 19. 2. 4. When the Church laies by her weapons No Kingdom can be kept safe in an ordinary way where all their weapons are taken from them or not used by them when their 〈◊〉 upon their borders When the Church hang by and lay aside Faith the shield whereby we defend our selves and prayer whereby we offend our enemies what safety is to be expected now in Churches Only be strong saith the Lord to Ioshuah when he went out upon that great service of the Lord Iosh. 1. 7. Eph. 6. 13. There is no more fearful sign of ruine to a Church than where the Spirit of prayer begins to fail and verily if any people under Heaven are ready to miscarry herein we that have our fill of peace and our yokes broken off from our shoulders are in most danger but if it be so look for such shakings of all hearts and Churches also as shall make you find your tongues and knees and eares and hearts again if the Lord means to dwell with you 5. Not bringing forth the fruits of the Kingdom Mat. 21. 43. Cut that Church down that cumbers the ground after many years pruning and wetting That Kingdom where there is Church-trading but no considerable gain coming in will consume quickly and die of it self Fruit is the last end of the tree All duties you do wherein you attain nor or at least aim not at your last and utmost end but make your selves
concluded with him and so fixt 'T is no match Why You must see no consent no love no imbracings c. would not such a one be counted a deceiver 2 Tim. 4. 8. Of Terror What will become of you that refuse the Lords kindness now that regard not the Bridegrooms voyce that refuse to bestow your hearts upon the Lord he shall never be a Bridegroom to you at this day when others meet him in the clouds c Now you see Saints absent from the Lord â—oor and mean and question the Lords love to them but then all shall be seen and all this you shall lose Ioh. 3. 32. No man receiveth his testimony c. you that never mourned as widows without him never felt need of his love what will become of you at this day Of Consolation to all those that be espoused and contracted to the Lord who have chose him who have given themselves to him who look now no further but content themselves in him or have a frame of heart so to do though fears keep them from possession of him Oh Christ shall come as thy Husband at that day Many Christians fear this day and hence do not sensibly love nor long for this day being under the whip continually of fears and questioning their estate but why do you fear when the Lord shall come as a Bridâ—groom Isa. 54. 4 5. why dost fear himself the Judge so holy when he is thy Husband thy chains and debts and sins when the Judge is thy Husband thy accusers or enemies when the Lord is thy Husband You should rather long for this day and rejoyce in it because now comes your full Redemption from all sinnes all sorrows the coming of a Husband is sweet First Though the people of God have weaknesses and wants the Lord hath none Secondly Though they must part for a little while the Lord is ever with thee Thirdly Though they car not help out of all evil yet the Lord Jesus will Oh they should rejoyce that when he comes like a Judge and all the wicked shall melt like wax before his presence and burn up before him Oh yet a Husband to thee SECT III. Object IF I knew this Answ. Yes you know it but there be some things that are false Objections against it as Object 1. Because the Lord is such a stranger and the Lord absents himself so much Answ. Is that a good Argument for a Woman Isa. 54. 6 7 8. It is not the time of being ever with the Lord in his time of wooing Iohn 16. 20. I will depart and you shall mourn the world will not and your heart shall rejoyce Object 2. Because my heart goes so soon so oft a whoring from him Answ. It may be that you are sorely tempted and thy heart may begin to be taken c. but yet if you cannot yield to lie in your falls this is not an evidence of a breach of the match Psal. 73. he was almost gone yet the Lord recovers him and saith he the Lord is with me therefore as it was with Christ it was not possible that the bonds of death should hold him so here shall it be with the poor doubting believer Object 3. Because my heart cannot love him Answ. Why do you then sigh under captivity and bondage of your love you cannot love him other things do keep you under oh but can she say she loves not her husband that doth sigh in bondage to be with himâ— Consider how it is at Christs absenting himself from thee as thou thinkest at any time for then love is seen especially at the time of parting Object 4. Because he is so unkinde to me he hears not all my prayers Answ. This is a great Objection if Christ would give them all their portion together which he promiseth them freely in his time then they think he is kind not else First Though he doth not hear all prayers at once yet he hath given thee that which is better than all prayers viz. himself and a pledge of all the rest and this is better than ten sons Secondly It would do you hurt oh therefore rejoyce in this day whatever thy condition be now Give some women their will and you give them your lives and losse of all so here and therefore saith Christ I will be Lord in my house SECT IV. OF Exhortation To those that are out of Christ or do not know that they be in Christ to labour to get your souls espoused and match't to the Lord Jesus it is a laudable custome grounded on Scripture that before marriage there is the time of espousals or contract and such may know though there be absence for a time yet that when he saith he will return to marriage he will come as a husband though others in the family cannot look for any such thing so here the great work of the Ministery is to espouse people to Christ now that they may be presented chaste Virgins unto the Lord Jesus 2 Cor. 11. 2. you may look then that he shall come as a Bridegroom to comfort you others cannot look for any such presence of Christ to them that are not espoused to him now Now Christ is gone up to his Kingdom but let base dust and vile man hearken the time is coming that he shall come in glory to the amazement of the World before whom all the wicked shall melt but the Saints shall live in glory caught up in the clouds of heaven Christ infinitely rejoycing in them and they in Christ. Would you have him come thus to you or as a revenging Judge and consuming fire for your contempt â—if so then get your souls espoused to him now SECT V. Object A las What can I do the Lord must do it Answ. True but he doth it by means the Ministry of the Gospel else what need there be any Scripture writ or Gospel preached use you the means and wait on the Lord thereby for the effecting of this Quest. What should I do Answ. Look as it is in marriage here or espousals here there be but two things that make up the match 1. Earnest suit on the one side And 2. Consent on the other and therefore if any thing hinder it ever lies either on the one side the man is unwilling he desires it not or on the other side if he be desirous she is unwilling but both these finish the business if therefore you would be ever espoused to the Lord Jesus look to these two things First See evidently that earnest suit the Lord makes unto thee for thy consent for thy good will and this will appear by his own speeches and this is a sufficient testimony by what speeches by his voice in these Scriptures for is this the Bridegrooms voice or no if not away with it if it be and that they do breath the Holy Ghost then know it it is as if he spake from heaven to thee now Object But he doth
him more when no tears shall ever prevail again Therefore if thou hast been found out this day confess and give glory to God and let thine eyes be tears that Christ would overcome and draw thy soul with love and espouse thee to himself for ever CHAP. VI. Containing Motives and Arguments to perswade us unto the Love of Christ and to be Espoused to him IS there no communion to be had with the Lord Jesus unlesse Virgins unlesse espoused to him Oh therefore here is a match for you chuse him get your affections if entangled to come off if ensnared to any other thing and set your hearts bestow your love upon him For 't is not a dead Faith but such a faith as is animated by love that doth espouse you to him Gal. 5. 6. Faith which works by love And therefore as the love of other things not worth looking after hath got the soveraignty and royalty of thy heart so this is a conjugal love when it bears rule in the heart let Christ have this love And as you have loved creatures for themselves now love the Lord Jesus for himself And as they have easily enticed you to set your hearts upon them now be perswaded to set your dearest affections on him It s said of Iohn Baptist he was the Bride-groom's Friend to speak for him Iohn 3. 29. And truly 't is the main work of the Ministry to wooe for Christ and so to present chast Virgins to Christ. This shall be my work now which may be seasonable in this decaying time Therefore I shall chiefly bend my speech to three sorts 1. To them that never yet loved the Lord Jesus unlesse it be from the teeth outward 2. Those that have been striving for this yet cannot to their own feeling come to this 3. Those that have so but their affections are dried up and love is parched away iniquity abounds c. And my Motives shall be these four 1. Consider the Glory of the person whom I shall be a spokes-man for this day 2. Consider he makes love to thee 3. Consider that all he seeks for is love 4. Consider what he will do for thee how he will love thee if thou wilt love him SECT I. 1. COnsider the Glory of the person for whom I plead for love What can you love besides him Where can you find any like unto him I know the Glory of the Lord is not revealed because the grasse withers not the flower fades not the creature appears not in his withering vanity Isa. 40. But if the Lord would but open your eyes to see him this would win your hearts alone to him Now I shall single out only these five things to give you a glimpse of his Glory Lift up thy heart and say Lord hide not now thy face from me 1. He is the Prince of the Kings of the earth Rev. 1. 5. The glory of the world is a Kingdom the glorious Diamond of that Kingdom is a Prince in his Glory now for a poor Beggar to have an offer of love from the greatest Prince in the world would it not tempt her Would she not forsake her lovers and set her heart on him Why look what a distance there is between the poorest Peasant and the highest Prince so base and a thousand times more are all the Princes of the world to Christ whose Dominion is from sea to sea from Sun to Sun who sets up and puls down Kings like Counters who rules their Courts their Kingdoms their hearts and they do not do they cannot do but what he will Other Kings are Princes are Rulers of men Christ Prince of Kings Now who would not be glad of his love who having tasted death is set down on the right hand of God on high cloathed with endlesse Glory who hath Kings in his chaines whose breath is not in his nostrils whose favour is not for a day but he lives and reignes for ever Now doth Christ reign Is he a Lord and in Glory upon his Throne Methinks I see Jesus at the right hand of God your foolish affections have undone you if you love him not 2. He is appointed by the Father to be Judge of quick and dead at the last day Iohn 5. 22 23. as well as to rule all now So that if you do maintain enmity against him he may let you alone you may live in health and die in peace in the eye of man and in thine own eyes too Yet there is a day coming he will break out of Heaven with a shout and appear in the clouds in the amazing Glory of his Father with all his mighty Angels and all the dead shall hear his voice and you shall appear before him with this body when the Heavens shall burn round about him and the earth shall tremble under him and all guilty eyes mourning and wayling because of him Then you shall know what 't is to despise him and wish oh that I had loved him Rev. 1. 7. You that say you love him yet by an imâ—enitent heart pierce him you shall wayl even so Amen Men do not see an end of these things not the Glory of the Lord another day Hence creatures are loved and the Lord of Glory is loathed A great Prince may not be so highly esteemed untill he appears in his state Prisoners would give any mony much more love for the Judges Favour 3. He only is the procuter and author of all the good that ever thou didst suck out here though thou hast neither known him not been thankful to him For look as it was with Angels so it should have been with man the wrath of God should have been poured out upon him and on all the world and creatures should have been tormentors of him but that the Lord Jesus begged and bought the world And hence 1 Tim. 4. 10. called Saviour of all but chiefly of the Elect. Micah 4. 4. In his daies men shall sit under Vines and Fig-trees So that if ever any creature did thee good it was Jesus that put that sweetnesse in it out of his fulnesse and set it awork sent it to thee gave it thee to do thee good Thou shouldst never have had winâ— of sleep never restrained from one sin but lived in blaspheming God never hà ve heard of a Gospel but for Christ And will you not love him Oh ungrateful world unnatural generation of men Why dost love any creature 'T is for the paint of it and good in it If there be so much in it what is there in Christ that gave it that dropt it into it Never love him if there be any thing good that is not by him Psal. 116. 1. The Lord hath heard my prayer I will call on him as long as I live Much more when the Lord hath delivered and thou didst never seek to him 4. He is the everlasting wonderment of Saints in Heaven the Queen of Sheba heard of Solomon which made her come to see him
no prophane ones among us to overthrow the kingdom of hypocrisie as well as of civility and prophanenesse 3. You will save the Lord a purging and cleansing time for when Christ purgeth not with the Holy Ghost in his Saints and Ordinances he will with fire Here I might give rules for discerning mens spirits as 〈◊〉 Mark their speech for by thy words thou shalt be justified and many times one word will give a light to see all as in Simon Magus as with men in a labyrinth found out by one thread Secondly Mark them that you see not grapling with Sin and Temptation for if we see them without that they are not yet tryed therefore observe them here here is their trial when time of Temptation comes Thirdly Get thy self to stand at a distance from sinful men from all the world We know we are of God 1 Iohn 5. 19. As men that are in the water look only to themselves but standing safe on shore they see others drowning I speak this because I fear the Churches are so busie about their own things that their 〈◊〉 not kept if they see no grosse sin then all is well Hence be not offended if you see great Cedars fall stars fall from Heaven great Professors die and decay 1. Do not think they be all such 2. Do not think the Elect shall fall Truly some are such that when they fall one would think a man â—ruly sanctified might fall away as the Arminians think 1 Iohn â— 19. They were not of us I speak this because the Lord is shaking and I look for great Apostacies towards for God is trying all his Friends through all the chrisâ—ian world in Germany what profession was there who would have tâ—ought it The Lord who delights to manifest that oâ—enly which was hid secretly sends a sword and they fall others in other places receive the Word with joy the Lord sends Persecution and fearing men more than the filth of sin and anger of Christ they fall others stand iâ— ouâ— there and suffer and venture hither and Isacâ—ar-like see rest is good and crouch under their burdens and so they fall Others have had sweetnesse in Ordinances the Lord departs and so they fall Others have corrupt hearts and received the truth in the form not in love and stood in deferce of the truth not love of the truth the Lord lets â—rrour loose and they fall Well never be offended at this I am not because I never knew man fall but he loved some lust and was never broken from sin and although this is not seen when they do fall it offends not me Oh therefore search your own hearts when Christ said to the Disciples one shall betray me Lord is it â— say they so when not one but many Lord is it I Oh many a christian lies fast asleep never comes to a thorow search a strict waâ—ch Do but consider this 1. That in Churches nay purest Churches many may lye hid nor discerned 2. Thou maist be one 3. If thou beest that of all men living none shall so deeply sink in Hell 4. That all Ordinances shall tend to this end and all thy joyes all thy afflictions and therefore Oh search befoâ—e the Lord search and say Lord as no mans punishments and plagues can be like 〈◊〉 nor sins if I â—erish so if pardoned loved never any shall have such cause to blesse theeâ— and therefore take not up with weak and groundlesse hopes but love that hand that smites and wounds thee for this discovery is to awaken thee but you have so much businesse you will not cannot c. Consider what a fearful thing 't is to be 〈◊〉 up as for a gazing-stock to Saints so an everlasting terror to the damned themselves CHAP. XIII Containing a Discovery of Gospel-Hypocrites SECT I. THat the most hidden hypocrites of the purest Churches under the Gospel are Evangelical or Gospel Hypocrites For these that were foolish were not such as in appearance rested in the Law or in a Covenant of Works but they had escaped those intanglements and now were Virgins that plead their interest in and their communion and fellowship and love-knot with Christ they had now their Lamps ready and made much preparation for him and they did wait for him and verily looked to have eternal fellowship with him their Beloved infomuch that they took their flight so high towards Heaven and Christ that they passed for a time the discerning of the wise for you must know that where the Gospel comes there are two sorts of enemies against it 1. Open and those are your Justiciaties that seeking to establish their own righteousnesse and being puâ—â—ed up with it can with pretended good consciences in doing God service oppose the righteousnesse of God 2. Secret and subtil enemies yet seeming Friends and these are your carnal Gospellers that cry down all their own righteousnesse and cry up Christ and see nothing in themselves as there is good cause so to think and look for all from Christ and yet these when the Lord comes to search are found false and these are the worms that grow in this wood in this building in these Churches Thus it was in Christs time the Church of the Jews had left their grosse idolatries yet this was their stumbling-stone they sought to establish their own righteousnesse and hence he came to his own and his own received him not and hence were cut off for this their unbelief but others divers sorts of them did receive him beleeved in him Iohn 2. 23. Many took hold on Christ and he took no hold on them wondred at him and entertained him when others did reject him as Capernaum did yet under his woe And these are the spots of Evangelical purity wenns in the best bodies of the best constituted Churches Look but upon Christs own Family Iohn 6. 69 70. The Disciples professed when others departed Lord to whom should we go thou hast words of life yet saith he I have chosen you indeed to be for me but one is a devil viz. Iudas the Deacon stood not on his own righteousnesse but was for Christ and followed him and yet in this Evangelical Angel without is a Devil within because he still harboured his lusts within This the Apostle Paul fore-saw Acts 20. 29 30. Some Wolves without should come and also some cankers within should fret that should draw many Disciples after them in a Church bought by Christs own blood speaking perverse things pretending to draw Disciples after Christ but 't is indeed after themselves and Paul laments this Many walk i. e. professe Christ and his Crosse yet enemies to it Phil. 3. 19. This Christ foretels Luke 13. 25 26. Many seek many knock and at last cry Lord Lord open and in their life-time they pleaded communion with Christ yet Depart ye workers of iniquity Iude 4. Certain â—en are crept in turning Grace into Lasciviousnesse for that is the very form of an
Evangelical hypocrite in denying his own righteousnesse to establish his sin 't is advancing Christ to advance his Lust. The Epistles of Iames and Iohn are antidotes against this kind of poyson and I look on them as lamps hung up to discover these men not but that these men are indeed under a covenant of Works for there be but two sorts of men and two ends of all men hence but Two Covenants hence those that are not indeed under Grace are under the Law and under the Curse but because the most subtil hypocrites apâ—ear or seem to be under Grace and their external operations are chiefly Evangelical hence I call them Evangelical Hypocrites SECT II. IN regard of the power of the Word and Gospel of life and spirit in such Churches For the Gospel where it comes as it advanceth the glorious and everlasting righteousnesse of Christ so it knocks under-foot all mans as a means subservâ—ent to that end and it coming with power and light it would be too grosse for Hypocrites to maintain life by Works hence Christs is that which they look unto for Christ when he preached not only many believed because of his Miracles but when they heard his Word Iohn 8. 30. Mat. 13. In the Parable of the Sower the Word came with much power that they received it with joy and did believe but fell by their Lusts. And look as 't is with the Sun there comes light and heat with it so there comes 1. Truth to the mind and conquers the judgements of Hypocrites that there is no life good righteousnesse but in Christ nor salvation but by Christ. 2. There comes some gooâ—nesse of the Gospel to the heart that men hearing and seeing Salvation wrapt up there Oh that is sweet and good and hence their affections and hearts are in some measure conquered by the power of the overdazeling truth and hence Hypocrites being thus conquered partly being of this opinion partly tasting some good of it desire it out of self-love expect it out of self-delusion and professe themselves Virgins out of these Principles In regard of power of Evangelical examples in the five wise Virgins for look as 't is with living men when the Sun shines upon their heads they cast their shadows that follow them so when the Lord Jesus shines upon the souls of his own people almost every honest sincere-hearted man will cast his shadow that will be like him hence Hypocrites in those Churches which are commonly rather led by example than by rule will be very like them and imitate them if they should not what communion could they have with them or what love could they receive from them for there is a mighty power in eminent examples to overbear Hypocrites that if they will turn themselves into any form they must into theirs as in Ioash for there are two things in the carriage of the Saints 1. There is a condemning power in it hence men fear to live unlike them 2. There is a winning vertue in it an attractive vertue hence men endeavour to be and live like them to be of the same mind the same heart with them and hence others take them and they take themselves to be sincere and hence they are Evangelical Gospel Hypocrites that lye hid in these Churches Hence Zach. 8. 23. Many shall take hold of a Iews skirt I doubt not but some false ones we have heard God is with you And as Christ when lifted up and risen so Saints draw Hypocrites to them Because the Gospel brings the greatest and sweetest consolations with it Hence a man under the terrour of the Law and sence of curse for his sin will make his last refuge hither and hide himself under the wing of the Gospel not so much out of love to Christ or Gospel but because they serve his turn and give him ease Like men scorched with heaâ— and almost ready to die the shadow of a Tree is now very comfortable and therefore there they sit so these Or as men with scalded arms they put them into wateâ— which gives them ease no cure but because it gives them ease there they keep them so here Men have been scalded with wrath Oh now Gospel is very sweet and so are eâ—sed 〈◊〉 it never cured by it Therefore here you shall find them disclaim all Works and cry up Grace only where the purest Churches are there are usually great awakenings there God is very near men and made most manifest to mens consciences and there are most soul-plagues contempt of the Spirit of Grace and hence most dreadful torments of conscience and fearful lookings for of Judgement Now hence it comes to passe when Christ is offered and general notice given to mens minds that yet there is hope and mercy for great sinners this fills them with joy and peace as Iohns hearers Iohn 5. 35. and hence they beleeve as the stony ground that had some plowing and hence received the Word with joy and believed Psalm 66. 3. It 's a Prophecy of the Kingdom of Christ Antichrist he tormented the consciences of men Rev. 9. Men have no peace within or without Luther is raised up and preacheâ—h the Doctrine of Free Grace which a world of men looking to their ease others in truth receive it for some time before his death he cries to God that he may not live to see the ruines that were coming on Germany for their contempt The Law is the Ministry of Death the Gospel propounds great priviledges with much more sweetnesse to sinners and hence hither men fly 4. Because the Gospel yields the fairest Colours for a mans sloath and strongest props for that Hence you shall see them wâ—lking in this garden For the last sin God conquers in a man is his sloath When the swine have no sâ—ill to eat yet you shall find them in the mire of sloath this slaies the foolish Hence the best Hypocrite will plead the Gospel its troublesom to the flesh to bear a daily sense of the sins and wants of the soul. Hence you shall have Capernaum receive Christ and wonder at his Doctrine and yet Christ upbraids them they repented not Mat. 11. 20. It s troublesom nay impossible for a man to break his chaines and get his soul loosed from his lusts and free for the Lord. The Gospel shews all fulness in Christ that he must do all a sloathful false heart thereâ—â—â—e closeth with Christ as the end but neglects him in the means Why Christ must do all say they and hence if Christ do drop upon their hearts well and good if not 't is Christs fault he is a hard Master that gathers where he did not sow and hence wrap it up A mans false heart is weary of the yoke of Christ and hence would fain be eased of it Now the Gospel promiseth libeâ—ty from the bondage and curse of the Law and a sloathful heart can find out reasons to free himself from the Rule of
he and others were the off-scouring of the world and this was their glory vâ—rse 16. Look upon Christ himself he had as much excellency as could be yet he cast it off despised all the glory of the world was a worm and no man he professeth he sought no â—onor of men â—ut the will of him that sent him this was his glory 2. Look upon the excellency of your estate in Christ 1 Cor. 2. 21. Glory not in men for all things are yours take any Prince that hath a Kingdom will he house in a cottage or spend his time and care to thatch and repair that no all the Kingdom is mine and hence he will have Kingly thoughts and Kingly aims and ends and acts that ennoble him indeed So here 2 Cor. 5. 9. Knowing we have a house above that there is but a breath between us and glory we labor are ambitious that whether absent or present to be present to be accepted of him The very reason why the hearts minds lives of men are so debased as to seek their glory in that which is their shame is this they know no better estate no greater glory the God of glory and Kingdom of glory and promise of glory and Ark and Cherubims and Oracles of glory in Christ have been to this day hid from their eyes hence Heb. 12. 2. Christ for the joy set before him despâ—sed the shame 3. Make the Lord present with you and see him shine about you in his glory when poor men come to the Court and see no King there they bow down to his Chair whereas if he was seen he should have all the honor then so when men see creatures but see them like empty chairs the God of glory not filling of them we bow down to creatures but when God is seen now the soul gives all glory to him a man that lives without any in his house as chief all servants attend on him but when the Prince comes with his train now all his Servants with himself are too little to attend on the Prince so here when men come to pray or preach or speak Oh how doth a wicked heart seek it self but when the Lord is seen now all attend on him hence when God sends his people to honor him he first appears to them in his glory and it never is long out of their minds hence Abraham forsook his own Country Acts 7. Moses forsook Egypt he saw God invisible Heb. 11. 26 27. Psal. 22. ult All nations shall remember and turn to the Lord when the Lord is seen all our glory is shame Isa. 6. and now glory in that and make him as present as at the last day then all shall fall down before him 4. See how every service you perform unto him every act of holiness quickned by the Spirit of life is pleasing to him if a Prince be with a man and cannot be pleased nothing can content him or we hear not one word from him whether we please him or not we shall grow weary of him at last but to consider this he that serves me him will my father honor that every cup of cold water shall have a Disciples reward that every groan shall be heard that what you do to one of these little ones you do it to Christ and Christ takes it as kindly as done to himself that the Lord remembers the love of your eâ—pousals Ier. 2. when you follow him in a land not sown that the comfort of all your labors tears sufferings shall follow you to heaven and for ever lodge in that blessed brest of thine Oh Brethren saith Paul always abound and spend your time here knowing your labor is not in vain in the Lord why do men seek to please men and place their glory there because men see and approve them Oh what is this to the approbation of a God SECT VIII OH then preserve this your glory when men have any thing in the world that is their glory their Crown their Treasure Oh they will keep that especially rather lose life than lose their names and glory in the world Oh preserve the spirit of holiness especially in these places this hath been this only shall be our glory and that not in name and yet dead but in deed and in power we have had our Christian conversation and that not by contenting our selves with a little but to be exactly holy a little spot is soon seen in your coat you shall observe it 1. When the Jews shall be made the glory of all the earth their glory shall not consist then in immediate Revelations but in Sanctification there shall be holiness and sanctification there shall be holiness on pots and horse bridles 2. When the Lord will be a defence to his people and a shadow from heat and from the Sun it shall be when the Lord hath purged away the filth of men by a spirit of burning not which burns up all holiness but filthiness and self-confidence in any holiness and hypocrisie and so they shall be holy Isa. 4. 3 4. 3. How many men stumble by opinions divisions c. the fruits of a corrupt head and streams of a dunghil heart that had rather live in sorrows among enemies than divisions among friends Oh the spirit of people as soon as any new Calf is made fall down and worship it and break the antient Land-marks which the Word hath set and then make prognostications of all ill weather to arise from opposing their opinion never shall our glory be recovered till these evils are confessed and lamented and the sin of the heart which begat them 4. I have wondred why so few be converted though blessed be God some the Lord doth pick out a few Servants Children and Natives is it not because either this exemplary holiness which is our glory is not or not so shiniâ—g but our lamps are dim Ministers preach and hearers are â—troubled but they then look upon scandals and offences from others and so are beaten off again Zach. 8. 20 21 22 23. Oh therefore preserve it 5. HOw will all the world ahhor the ways we walk in if we miscarry 6. God will have holy Churches he is refining the whole world now for that end and will do so more and more and go on SECT IX Quest. How shall we preserve it Answ. 1. Take heed of harboring an ill opinion of holiness for then if your judgements dislike it your tongues and your lives shall disgrace it Take heed of imagining that First there is no grace in Saints only immediate actings of the Spirit this is no spirit of holiness no more than in Baalams Ass through which God spake to him Secondly That these graces are only common who will seek much after that or esteem that which is but common this is to despise the Spirit to contemn the blood of the Covenant whereby the Church is sanctified Thirdly That grace is so dark and obsâ—ure a thing always as no
the soul in private either to his shame or glory before Christ but the body is to be judged as well as the soul to shame before men or glory before all the world Fourthly In regard of Christ's soveraignty and excellency the coming of Christ is called his Kingdom 2 Tim. 4. 1. Why doth not Christ rule now in the world Yes but it is in the midst of his enemies his enemies rule and he rules also but there must a time come that no enemies must rule but Christ alone and this is his kingdom in a most illustrious manner for the things of Christ are said to be with us when they do in a special manner appear as the coming of his Spirit and his love so his Kingdom now Christ must reign till all his enemies are put under foot for it is not fit he should lose his Kingdom hath the Lord suffered others to reign and rule and himself to be hid and his glory lost and that so long and will he never return to his Kingdom to be glorious there to reap all his glory that he hath lost by all his enemies in the world Was there ever King that would ever endure one generation of Rebels after another and never make himself sole Sovereign however Man may suffer it yet the Lord will not he must reign And wherefore doth Christ reign It is to trample 〈◊〉 under foot his and his peoples enemies Christ sets death his enemy to destroy his enemies and keep them as in a Goal but afterward Christ will call them forth and pass an irreversible doom upon them SECT VI. SEE therefore and believe the truth of this Point as well as hear it At the first coming of Christ Heb. 11. 13. they did thus saw the Promises afar off and embraced them so see it afar off There be divers people that profess this truth that do not fully believe it for if they did they would never live as they do That look as men that know the Judge rides Circuit within half a year dare not commit any open sins so if you believed this you would make conscience of secret sins which this Judge shall judge Others there be that do believe it as they do reports that every man saith but they do not see that really to be true indeed which their hearts literally believe and hence mens hearts are not a whit moved with grief or sorrow or joy or fear at the remembrance of this day For as it is with us in reports of news out of Germany many hear things but are not affected with their misery because they do not see it acted before their eyes God presents not their sorrows and hence they are not moved but when they do see them acted then they are moved much so here Look as it is with a man awake and in sleep a man awake believes the day of Judgement and never stirs but when asleep he dreams of it and is much affected with that because he sees it acted before his eyes much more when men have not dreams but real visions or sight of it it will affect And hence set painted fire before a Malefactor it affects not but shew him really it wherein he must be burnt now it amazeth him and hence 2 Pet. 2. 11 12 14. looking for and hence Peter saith what manner of persons ought we to be and whereever there is Faith thus it will be Heb. 11. 1. it makes things absent present and things unseen evident Oh that God would shew you this truth you young men Eccles. 11. 9. you would not spend time vainly but know God You aged men whose hearts are rooted in this world Oh know that God will come and burn up your delights will you never see this day and fear it before you see it and mourn because of it Oh take heed of rash judging and condemning and suspecting and censuring other men In Pauls time Rom. 14. 10. one Brother in a Church there judged another about indifferent things in a Christ-like manner as if he had no Grace c. You shall stand before Christs Iudgement Seat saith Paul and hence Paul 1 Cor. 4. 3 4 5. accounts little of mans Judgement and bids them judge nothing c. What if Christ find that to be a lye which thou judgest to be true Many of Gods Servants lie under hard thoughts and speeches in private not only from Enemies abroad but from inhabitants at home men out of the Church censuring and judging of Members men in the Church one of another especially if they take to a side The Lord will discover hard speeches and an edition of all your hard thoughts put out in print at the last day This breaks love this breaks Church-fellowship and is the cause of breacheâ— in this Country Oh take heed of an hypocritical heart if the Lord should come to judge according to the seeing of the eyes of the outward man then well were it with many but when the secrets of the hearts shall be judged it will be terrible if there should never be a calling over of things again happy were it for many but 't is otherwise 2 Cor. 5. 10. Paul sought only to please the Lord for we must all appear c. Civil men if they can carry it so as men may not say hurt of them they think 't is well Hypocrites if they can maintain a name of Religion so as they may maintain their interest in good mens hearts it is well if they get some enlargement in duties that they are commenâ—â—â— of them well if they can get so much mercy as to get the Lord to accept of Christs righteousness for them it is well but saith Paul We laborto be accepted of him I am perswaded godly men do not think of this we think the wicked shall have all their secrets laid open but the Saints come not into condemnation 't is true not of wrath but of trial so as that their righteousness shall be laid open to all to their glory at the great day 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. And therefore get that life which Christ himself may commend that as Christ said I have not found such faith in Isrâ—el So here when thou hast spoken a good word repeated a Sermon spent a Sabbath ask thy heart is this worth shewing to all the world that though at be vile yet Christ himself will commend this Oh you will finde only acting for him will commend the act Mat. 25. 40. there is that needlework and golden Arras of Holiness which is lapt up in the Saints that Christ will open before all the world another day Oh therefore repent Act. 17. 31. Paul tells them times past were spent in ignorance without God time to come was a time of Judgement and wrath of God against all sin Oh then repent Mourn for all wrongs done against Christ You will â—â—il then if you take not your season now mourn therefore for time past and for
or that it would be a shame for you to begin now who have propt up your hearts with base comforts you that have been stirred but are now faln asleep beware of dying in your ditches and pits wherein you are faln you must stand before God shortly Though you never repented yet c. never was in bitterness never had any great mourning c. never knew the life of Christ peace of conscience never felt the Kingdome and mighty power of Christ yet despaire not for yet there is hope but if once death comes then thou art gone it is day yet and Christ holds open his wings yet but if death comes his time is out Object But I have a faire time yet before me Answ. 1. It may be not for thou art condemned already 2. If you have yet wilt abuse patience and forbearance of God wilt despise what leads thee to repentance as a man â—inking spits in the face of him that holds up his Head wilt thou be worse than a devil Objection But a little repentance will â—erve the turne 't is quickly lonâ— Answer Oh no! as Paul said I have fought a good fight thou hast â—ins as dear as thy life to forsake thou hast Devils World to wrestle with nâ—y God himself to wrestle with you cannot runne your Race in a day Object What if I be shut out Answ. I say no more but only what Solomon said Prov. 5. 11 12 13. O how have I hated reproof that shall be thy woful dirge another day when shut out oh never to have one look one word from Christ but to see him afar off this shall be thy fearful portion hereafter Truly we may take up that complaint of Christ You can discerne the times of the Weather not Christs coming VERSE 11 12. Afterward came also the oâ—her Virgins saying Lord Lord open unto us But he answered and said Vâ—rily I say unto you I know you not IN these two Verses is set down the entertainment Christ gives unto the foolish Virgins and his behaviour toward them and that is he did not own them as his but saith I know you not Their miserable rejection is aggravated from these particulars shewing their misery 1. The note of certainty of this Verily c. 2. Though they came afterward to the Lord it is not said with their Oyle in their Vessels c. 3. Though they prayed to the Lord to open when they came 4. Though they prayed earnestly Lord Lord 5. Though they sought thus with Arguments Lord Lord as if they should say Thou art our Lord and Saviour we look for life from none but thee That after the coming of Christ to death or judgement then shall those who are most secretly wicked know certainly that the gate is shut and their exclusâ—on and final separation from the face of Christ. These foolish Virgins had some hopes and assurances of mercy whiles the Bridegroom was absent in their life so men have in this world such hopes but when Christ came and shut the door upon them then they knew their miserable condition This life is compared unto a sleep and dreame Psalme 90. 5. wherein men understand and conceive of things with false shapes so here but when they awaken then they appeare otherwise after death men are awakened and then they see things as they are the Parable of the rich man Luke 16. proves this Because then God lets in a new light most full and cleare to see and know things as they are and so to know themselves and their estates it is an Atheists speech Ecclâ—s 9. 5 7 10. That the dead know not any thing and hence be as merry as you can eat thy bread with joy c. No now they do know c. as the Saints know their eternal acceptation by a most glorious light God walks darkly here but then this full light shall come in As it is with a man that is to be condemned before he be cast the Judge brings in full evidence so Heb. 9. ult After death cometh judgement there is full evidence when Aâ—am stood before God the Lord fuâ—ly convinced him when death comes then there is an end of mens Stewardships Luke 16. 2. and when an end comes to that what comes then Come give up thy account now those whose reckonings are naught must either deceive and blinde the all-searching eyes of God and so not be found out or they shall see wherein they have been faithless and false What is spoken of the general Judgement is true also of this particular it is the day of Revelation God himself will now cleare up matters as Christ here doth Verily I know you not Because then the soul will desire to know and have leisure to see and know it self as these foolish Virgins their souls were looking in a sort in their life-time for Christ but now they look and see indeed some know not themselves though having light nor their present misery because they desire not to know and hence reflect not upon themselves according to light now or if they desire so to-do yet they have not leisure the noise and multitude of cares keeps them from a cleare knowing of their estates but now men shall be brought to the Land of solitariness and shall have leisure to see having Gods light let in to see by there shall then be no business but only to consider Who am I and what have I done men shall have no Cities to build nor business to do as Faelix then and hence put out the light Because then conscience is throughly awakened because it is a time of judgement now and if so then the witnesses must appeare though they have been silent long before they shall be forced to speak Now it is wonderful to see what conscience will speak when God awakens it men many times will not see the evil which they have done but conscience will make them see it nay confess it when 't is awakened Three things conscience will do when it is awakened 1. It will shew a man his chief sins which he defended which he extenuated which he never suspected These things hast thou done 2. It can bring fresh to memory sins forgotten sleighted dead and buried a great number all of them as if new done Iohn 4. 29. all things that ever I did 3. It can and will aggravate all these things and sins and present them in the greatness of them that mens mouths shall pass their own Sentence upon them as Cain did that let all the world perswade them their case is good they cannot believe it now this we see in this life in some but when life is ended then these things shall be acted much more lively Psal. 50. 21. I will reprove thee even of what they thought God did approve and I will set them in order in their number and greatness before thy eyes i. e. of conscience all falshoods deceits loathsome tricks c. I did
sought your selves in all this Though the duty is hard and thy heart loth to come to it yet say For thy sake Lord I love it The earnest cryes and prayers of unregenerate men at death or judgement are then too late to prâ—cure mâ—râ—y from the hands of Christ. If there be any means in time of distress â—o have help it is by prayer itâ— helps the Saints out of deep pits dark dungeoâ—s Lam. 3. and Iron Furnaces bitter agonies intolerable pressures but this meanes though they shall use it then because their torment is great and their self-love remaines as these Virgins did yet it comes too late then I know their prayers differ but of that I shall speak hereafter If in this life sometimes they come too late much more after this but so it is sometimes Prov. 1. 28. Psal. 18. 41. Prov. 15. 1. even unto the Lord. The Lord sees it meet to give a taste of his severity after life and in this life that men may fear and the terrour may fall upon many Because then Christ sits upon the Throne of judgement and so no Mediatour to help them as hath been proved and if it be so how shall they stand Psalme 130. 3. In this life mercy waits and patience bears till it can bear no longer and then doth ease it self Ezâ—kiel 5. 13. and cries to justice c. And therefore the prayers and howlings of the wicked are to no more purpose than of a Malefactor before the Judge condemned for Treason Because their cryes are but only Howlings Hosea 7. 14. only rising from their own torment because the Spirit of God is quite gone and if the Lord should heare they would be as bad againe as ever before if mercy should save these Thieves from this Gallows they would cut the Throat and Sâ—ab the heart of mercy afterward as all such persons do who are carried from that principle in their prayers and therefore let them never look to be heard now Hence see the exceeding greatnesse of the wrath of Christ to them that die without him Psalm 18. 41. Many times the Lord hides his face from his people for a time but then they pray and seek his face again and the Lord heares them and shines upon them again when his Spirit in them speaks to him his Son in his Covenant speaks unto them and the Lord hears the cry of their weeping as well as their praying Psalme 6. 8. But if when they pray earnestly and the Lord hears not then but is angry with their prayers oh this is bitter to them Psal. 80. 4 5. Lam. 3. 44. 't is that which Christ typically complaines of Psal. 22. 1 2 4 5. There is no wrath like this for a God so pitiful as many times to help without cryes more than a Mother with tender bowels and not to regared cryes as if he had cast off his nature this makes wrath and sin bitter to the people of God and indeed this is the reason why the Lord gives his people mercy but 't is by means of prayer usually that they might see in what favour they are in his sight above others that when he seems to be averse from hearing yet prayer will turn the wheele and Iacob prevailes over God and hence Psalmâ— â— Christ shall have all Nations for his possessiâ—ns but yet Ask of me as Herâ—d said when he said Ask of me to half of the Kingdome c. And hence exceeding wrath is shewn in denying for a time to heâ—r prayer many times Now look upon the condition of poore â—inners dying without Christ they shall then cry and cry earnestly and yet not prevail if the wrath of God did break out at this time and lie heâ—vy and the Lord say Now cry and I 'le deliver it was no such sorrow â—hough bâ—â—ter enough to lie under wrath one moment but to cry and cry vehemently Lord Lord and never to be heard oh who can beare this their torments are intolerable hath the Lord no pity their cries are many and heartâ— are faint hath Christ no bowels hath this Lamb no more meekness gentleness yes that there is but such is his terrour now they are shut up from you and so shall ever be though you shall cry and weep as many teares and more too than the Sea hath drops and when you cannot come before his face the Gate being shut you shall cry That the Rocks and Mountaines may fall upon you to hâ—de you from this wrath of the Lamb and you shall then cry Behold and see if ever sorrow were like mineâ— but all shall be in vain Oh therefore see the greatness of this wrath so as to see the bitterness of any one sin which stands yet between thee and Christ which though it be sweet under thy tongue now yet when the day of thy anguish shall come it shall shut up Christs heart from hearing all cryes Of Exhortation To perswade all men to take their season of praying now Isa. â— 55. 1. with 6. when the Lord cryed Come to the waters c. and because they might plead Hereafter oh saith he Call upon him whiles he is nearâ— there will be a great Gulf between you and Christ when you are dead now therefore when the Lord comes in his Word especially cry unto him for help and pity You will say There is no great need thanks be to God of pressing ment to prayer here Who is so prophane but doth he is not worthy to live or to enjoy the benefit of the Sun nor fit to live among the society of men who dares not do thus but to live among Bears and Wolves and Beasts in the Wilderness I would to God there was no need to press this point but truly the Countrey being a place filled with discontents which ever keeps from prayer because the Devil is in them and also of great peace and rest hence here men are more apt to sleep and grow secure than in any other place of the world and the Spirit of prayer is ready to dye even in Gods own and hard 't is for this Incense to be sweet without some fire some affliction thereunto 1. Some there be that do not so much as feel their misery at all neither sin nor wrath and hence they cannot pray at all they are not in so good a case to pray as the damned who feel their misery and cry out under it these cast out of Gods sight yet hâ—ving hope and so should pray the more and so cry out under it yet cannot though the earth groanes under their sins yet their hearts are hard and they cannot feel them and so cannot pray and they quiet themselves with some formes and their Coleworts twice sodd and some cold prayers morning and evening and hope that these will serve the turn and here is all the comfort they have nay not only so but if others that know their hearts better and so pray longer
reprove them for it they sinfully reply What you are like the Pharisees that think to be heard for their long prayers Oh the Lord gives many up to this spirit of slumber their hearts are heavy and can no more lift them up than a stone 2. Some there be who feel their misery and go unto the Lord with many cries and prayers but yet herein behave themselves like Saul when God answered him not then they forsake him and like them Mal. 3. 14. What profits us that we have walked mournfully and thinking they shall not finde they build their Cities as Caine did and ease themselves that way 3. Some there be that do not give over because they think they shall not find but ease themselves by their very prayers pray out their prayers and confess out their confessions and mourn out their sorrows and are compared to the Dog who easeth himself by his vomit they are troubled and then prayer easeth them and when a little ease then prayer is done as Psal. 78. 35 38. 4. Some that have no ease yet have no leisure not time â— as many servants and men greedy of the world rise betimes and work hard sleepy at night that they cannot have leisure and when conscience asks Why do you not take time this is their excuse Oh but cannot you take it out of your sleep and lose your life rather than lose your seasons of prayer they hope hereafter so to do 5. Some that have leisure yet their hearts are dead they can pray and stand convinced of misery but I say their hearts are dead Isa. 64. 7. None stirreth up himself nay sometimes as a man asleep when the fire burns round about him yet he feels it not Isa. 42. ult They can vex and be discontent when crosses and afflictions come but no heart to pray or lay their condition to heart Oh this is sad and fearful 1. Beseech you therefore take your time now you must and shall pray 1. Do you think ever to have mercy without seeking it and praying hard for it No if ever God intend good to thee if an Elect Vessel thou must pray yea and glad you may have such an unvaluable priviledge and that you are alive to do it I know the Lord is found of them that seek him not but he will make you seek that so he may be found seek therefore in time now before it is too late 2. Do not say the Gate is shut no 't is yet open and that by the blood of a Mediatour Heb. 10. 19 20. So that when you object God hears not sinners yet Zach. 13. 1. there is yet a fâ—untain opened for to wash in for sin and uncleannesse all thy sins cannot shut it because 't is opened wash away sin 3. Do not say If I had a part in Christ I could then be encouraged to ask I pray what think you of that Woman of Samaria when Christ spake If thou didst know and ask he would give thee living waters What did the poor Woman of Canaan do when Christ himself told her She was a Dog and had nothing to do with Childrens bread when you have no Promise to assure you the Lord will give yet the glorious bounty and riches of grace may encourage you sufficiently to seek 4. Do not say But it may be I shall be denied let me pray never so long I know you are worthy to be deâ—ied and as you have cried the Lord should not heare and as you have abused grace it should cry against you why should you Quarrel the Lord owes thee not strawes but yet Remember the Parable of the unjust Judge who heard a woman a stranger when importunate and this is found a sure truth 't is with all men praying as 't is with women in travailing either their pangs will deliver them of their burden and so they live or else they will be their death if they cease and give over then they die Prayer will deliver you of your sinnes unbelief or whatever stands between Christ and you or if not they shall die and perish Sow your seed of Prayer it will multiply if it be the right seed until your Harvest bé great and your gain unknown security will fall on a Hypocrite before he gets the blessing and the cares of the world will choak his prayers 5. Oâ— therefore follow the Lord Hosea 6. 3 4. You shall know him if you follow on â—o know him especially if you be truly wounded though he hath been as a Lion to you Is Christ so glorious his presence so sweet his Kingdome so great his mercy so rich his Inheritance so full and wilt not thou pray awake one houre hath Christ bought mercy with his blood and wilt not thou spill thy blood nay not spare and spend thy poor prayers to beg it it may be praying time is declining apace and so get it and by that meanes hear Christ Jesus say Come oh come thou blest that hast been praying weeping following me and take thy Crown and sit down on my Throne oh it will be a cut to think Had I sought it I had had it Psal. 24. Of Thankfulness to the Saints that the Lord hath given them hearts to seek the Lord in a finding time Psal. 32. 5 6. Time was thou couldst not pray but the Lord hath found thee out and stirred up unutterable groanes here and all thy groanings have not been bid from the Lord. Object But many pray and finde not how shall I know I have found Answ. When the spirit of prayer not the gift of prayer hath carried thee Râ—m 8. 27. Quest. How shall I know that Answer 1. It is not fervency 2. Nor looking to Christ and his Mercy 3. Nor Arguments that are evidences of this Spirit for these the foolish Virgins had But I shall shew it in three Degrees First Observe what is the utâ—ostend in prayer and so hath been in all thy prayers it is certain all the prayers of unregenerate men though enlivened with some common gift of the Spirit are ever for themselves if any outward calamity befalls them they then pray Psal. 78. But it is as Pharaoh for themselves because the plague is upon them if the Word meets with them and troubles them their prayers if fervent are only for ease when their bones are broke 't is for peace and comfort and if they desire grace ' tâ—s for peace-sake if they have peace for the present and feel blindness hardness of heart they think these will damn them and hence salvation and deliverance from misery is the utmost end they aim at and so in all their prayers let men study their hearts and they shall see themselves the mark they shoot at and the God they serve and Idol they worship in all their prayers and do you think these shall be heard No no but Saints they look not at these things chiefly but their utmost end is another thing at first conversion it is