saith the soul c. And now if any Woman lives with a man that is of a hoggish churlish disposition she will be ever doubting of his love Men do not know it I say and hence when any misery or trouble comes they grow jealous of him which the Lord takes exceeding ill Deut. 1. 27. Quest. How shall I know that tender-heartedness of Christ Answ. By his carriage towards men when he was here on earth for now he is in Heaven in Glory and we know not what his disposition is therefore his life on earth was the living looking-glasse of his heart for ever In Four Things 1. Never any came to him that he cast away whatever their sorrows or sins were but healed them every one if they came to him with their miseries for in healing their miseries he did but shew his readinesse to heal them of their sin hence Matthew applies that Mat. 8. 17. He bare our infirmities 2. When men came to him for by-ends not for himself chiefly he rebukes them for it and shews he was more ready to give himself than bread to them Iohn 6. 27. 3. Those that were lost and sick and miserable and came not to him he went up and down to seek and save them the lost Sheep Luke 19. 10. 4. Those that would none of his love he pittied and had compassion on their misery and sin as on them that were sheep without a shepheard he mourned for the hardnesse of their hearts he wept over Ierusalem Now look upon Christ the same still thou comest to him in secret to take away all iniquity to give thee himself tell me dost think the Lord if here would reject thee ever 2. But I dare not receive him Ans. Thou wilt take Bread from him daily and he is more willing to give himself 3. Thou canst not come to him nor find him but only sometimes nor see him well but then he will seek thee out 4. Oh but I oft reject yet he pitties thee still O think of this compassion of Christ and make him as if present 't is a special means to establish the heart in Believing Learn to know when you are bound not to give way to your fear of Gods love for sometime it is the case of many a precious soul that he hath clear evidence of Gods love to him and what is there against it nothing but a fear what if I should be deceived when all is done and hence the heart sinks exceedingly As some Women that have special love if once they take a jealousie of their Husbands love it 's never removed So here How shall I know this First If those fears thou hast drive thee farther from Christ it 's clear you are then to cast them off those fears that cause sin are sinful but to be driven from Christ is sinful Luke 5. 9 10. Lord depart from me I am sinful fear not saith Christ 1 Sam. 12. 20. they were ready to cast off all Fear not saith he think of this what 't is you get by nursing up those fears they hinder your joy in and your love to Christ your blessing of Christ cause a dead discouraged heart nay though they drive you to Christ one way if they drive you from Christ another way by questioning his care concluding against his Truth never doubt they are vile Mat. 8. 26. Why did ye fear O ye of little Faith So far therefore as fear drives us to Christ 't is good otherwise to be cut off 2. If the Lord hath drawn thy heart to come to Christ and when undone every way secretly perswaded thy heart that thou shalt have help if thou come and by coming hast received healing Vertues of thy lusts and vile affections from the Lord Jesus fear not now 't is a sin to fear I shall not have help as Mark 5. 33. the Woman with the Bloody-issue she was afraid she had presumed hence came trembling but the Lord told her Now fear not be it unto thee according to thy Faith only thy Issue is but begun to heal What say you have you never come to him never received any healing from him that is hard Surely 't is so that I would not be in my lust again for a world If none of these prevail but the Lord follows thee with fears on fears as wave on wave then see if there be not some guile of spirit in thee i. e. some sin you have or would give way to if you had assurance of Gods love It was the speech of one to me next to the Donation of Christ no mercy like this to deny assurance long and why for if the Lord had not I should have given way to a loose heart and life but c. so if the Lord should deal so with thee it may be thou would'st lye in thy sins if thou had'st peâ—ce there and it may be you have had it but sinned and not confessed not lamented not opposed Thus it was with David Psalm 32. 1 2 3 4. Hence when he confessed the Lord forgave in his Conscience his sin Men will withdraw their love from their Wives if it make them wanton and deal sharply with them so one that never restored could never get peace some ever complaining never setled because they have their Truces with sin and would have peace with Christ and it cannot be And this is a rule I have long held in them that have clear light of the Gospel long denial of assurance is like fire to burn out some sin and then the Lord will speak peace Iudg. 10. 16. And therefore take this counsel and God will tell thee thy sin if thou art desirous that he should find it out but get this mercy from him Zach. 13. 9. Bring thy heart to a straight either to reject or receive him to be thine he is offered to be King and Saviour and Lord and Husband now thou shalt have his heart his hand his Spirit his Father his Kingdom his Ordinances his Angels himself if you receive him or else if not you shall lose him and then woe to thee when any mercy any misery any Ordinance befalls thee for all shall suck thy Blood consume thee and fit thee for eternal ruine and then wish Oh that I had taken him but then too late therefore receive him or reject him Oh I cannot that 's another matter However we propound these Evangelical commands that may come with power and therefore know that if they do not now they shall arise again in time SECT II. THis is not all that which makes you ready for Christ unlesse your love is set and fixed on him and therefore look that it be ready I doubt not but that there is glowing in your hearts some love to the Lord it cannot be that all should be quenched that all his kindnesse should be forgotten but remembred many times with some affliction but know it if it be so your lamp is not
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
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.
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
glory out of thy ruine he was blessed before all worlds and by all thy sins thou dost but throw stones against the wind or snow-balls against the Sun why doth he do it O 't is thy good he pitties thee as once Ierusalem to look upon thy destruction and desolation as 't is with the Elect they have wrath before their eyes and hence perswade others so the Lord Jesus SECT III. 3. COnsider 't is nothing else but love the Lord looks for or cares for Love looks for nothing but love Prov. 8. 17. and this is the end of all Election to be holy before him in love and mark it if it be a stayed love that constrainâ— thee to him you cannot wrong him As if thou come and perswade one to murder his Child he cannot so if perswaded to despise oh bowels of heart-breaking love 2 Cor. 5. And surely 't is admirable love What if it were thy Goods thy Isaâ—â— to be sacrificed thy body to be burned it was nothing but he desires only love only thy heart which hath forged so much villany against him let him never be called upon or professed if not worthy of this After all is this all yes no Portion he cares for and when he hath this he hath all Wonder at this O Angels SECT IV. 4. COnsider what he will do for thee how he will love thee if thou wilt thus love him 1. He will set thee next himself in honour Psalm 45. 9. that as the Lord Jesus is next to God sits at his right hand so here which is an honour that the Angels have not who are no where called Christs Spouse hence never had such an union hence never shall partake of that honour of Saints 2. He will enrich thee as 't is with Man and Wife all that he hath is hers so himself and all his glory his God his Father his Kingdom is thine Prov. 8. 21. they that love me inherit something others nothing no nothing indeed only shews of good and they find it so when they awake nothing their own nothing long that let thy outward man yea thy inward be never so poor thou shalt by him be heir of all 3. He will cousel thee hence David Psal. 73. made choice of God Thou wilt guìde me by thy counsel no greater curse than to be left to the guidance of a mans own counsel but here there shall not be any strait but the Lord will shew thee a way out of it either by his prudence or providence there shall not be any secret of Christ that thou desirest to know but as Christ told them You are my Friends so you are my Spouse hence all his secrets shall be opened to thee there shall not be one act of thy life but ordered by infinite prudence and wisdom and love sometimes we are befooled in our own counsels and left to them to teach us to depend on the Lord the more yet thereby shall come out such good that it shall be among us as with Iosephs Brethren 4. He will dwell with thee as a man must dwell with his Wife Iohn 14. 23. that the great Mediator that passeth by Kings and Princes and will not look on them should come and dwell with thee this is better than to have the presence of Kings the guard of Angels better than Heaven it self that he should dwel where is nothing worthy to entertain him only something to grieve him Now this is 1. A constant assistance of the Spirit that let the Soul go where he will be brought to never so low an ebb yet Christ will not out but some stirrings sighings lookings pantings after Christ when heart and strength fail yet God c. when ready to give all for lost then consider as Psal. 73. 2. If he doth depart he will not be loug but return again and those that know his affection know it so to be Isai. 54. for a little moment c. so the Lord may depart and when his presence is a little more esteemed come again with everlasting mercies as a man may know many weaknesses by his Wife yet she having not bestowed her heart on any other he will return so if thou canst say yet I am the Lords he will return 5. He will rejoyce in thee and over thee Zeph. 3. 17. as a Bridegroom doth over the Bride Not because of any beauty in thee for there is none but because given in marriage of the Father and for his own sake This day thou shalt no sooner set thy heart on Christ but he falls in love with thee and will take thee with joy thou thinkest he will be angry if thou closest with him and love him no it will be the joy of Heaven of Jesus Christ himself 6. He will exceedingly comfort thee and look as 't is with tender husbands then they comfort most when most sorrowes beâ—ide them for who could endure his wife should be alway drooping So even then when nothing doth or can comfort thee the Lord will Isa. 54. 6. For the Lord doth not alway comfort but when in need as it was with the Patriarchs Then God appeared when they were at worst and these are abundant comforts 2 Cor. 1. 3 4 5. You shall not need to scramble for it as many do whose hearts do not love Christ in truth as yet 7. He will put up all Wrongs and bear exceedingly with thee Many think even when God hath sealed love to them if any little sin be committed then they are cast off no if under the Law so indeed but when espoused to him 't is not weaknesses nor wilfulnesse can make the Lord cast thee away but he will heal the one and afflict thee for yet not cast thee off for the other Psal. 89. 33. My loving kindnesse will I never take away Yea he will forgive both Luke 7. 47. Much forgiven because she loved much Nay thy wrongs shall be an occasion to make him love thee more Rom. 5. Where sin abounds Grace abounds 8. He will never part with thee Hos. 2. 19. Once love him and he will never lose thee 1. No sin shall part thee and him for Christ when he enters into marriage covenant doth not suspend his love on our Grace or Holinesse then he might leave quickly but on his own Grace to wash away out filthinesse Eph. 5. 25 26. If a husband marries a woman only for so long as she is in health then when sicknesse comes he may depart But è contra if to take away her sicknesses then they cannot hinder Nothing but Adultery can part Now that they cannot do for nothing breaks till covenant is broken And the covenant here is everlasting and so undertaken for by the Lord that it can never be broken 2. No miseries can Rom. 8. 35 36 37. Can tribulation It makes man leave us but this is peculiar to Christ he will not leave 3. Death cannot it must part man and wife though loved never so dearly before
been Imitators and Apeâ— of God to forge and make Grace like true Grace hence deceived This being pleasing to men is the practice of most men yea all men out of Christ. And this is one great part of the inward secret subtil spiritual whoredom of the soul. Thus men may force sorrow when yet there is little true sorrow and so in other cases SECT VII THat all these works though good in themselves yet are most vile before the Lord as Christ speaks of the Pharisees Its abomination in the sight of God which is glorious before man Luke 16. 15. 1. Because hereby the soul deprives Christ of the end of his coming for all men having lost the stock and power to live the Lord hence will trust no man with it again hence puts it into a surer and better hand that thither poor blind dead creatures might fly for life when they are there live there like â—ees on their hony Iohn 6. 27. 17. 23. He might never have looked after you and will you despise him now What folly and unkindnesse is this that when your pits are dry and bottles empty and souls miserable here you will not I do not say sip when water runs by your door but not live 2. Because whatever comeâ— from self it s ever for self A man can do nothing from himself but his last end is self As 't is with water-works they rise no higher than the spring Gen. 11. 4. This Babel I have built Dan. 4. 30. And a man that hath but common Grace look as by vertue of that Grace or gift of God he may act for God because it came from God so nature and sin being moâ—e powerful than that Grace hence he never so acts for God but in the last place acts for it self as in Iehu And so a man makes himself his own Goâ— 3. Because whatever a man doth from himself he will grow proud of it Rom. 4. Not of works lest any man should boast Hence Iâ—ab sent to David to take the City that he might have the Crown This robs Christ of the Glory 4. Because whatever work is not done by vertue of the Lord Jesus is a dead work which a living God and a living Christ and a living Spirit loâ—th Heb. 9. 14. Sprinkle your Consciences from dead works Deadly works are sins dead works are good works done but not from the principle of the life of Faith but life of Nature Now as Conscience is the principle of the life of Nature So Christ is the principle of a Christian life Col. 3. 1 Iohn 5. 10 11 12. For 't is not sanctification that is the principle of life but the life it self that flows from it as from union of soul and body the soul is not the life but the principle of it hence as soon as it s out the body is dead So c. And do you not find it thus whenas you do many duties how tedious wearison are they yet must be done this is a dead work What comfort what peace is there when you have done them because not from life 5. Because what come from self comes from all sin 't is dipt and dyed and tainted and poysoned with all sin in a manner Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean 6. Because when a man will act from himself and not suffer Christ to act for him he will not have Christ to reign over him he puâ—â— down the Kingdom of God that should be within him For when a man professeth Christ is King of his Church he is now a King in name When a man feels an impossibility to rule himself and hence desireth and chuseth Christ to rule now Christ is a King by choice When the soul after this choice depends on Christ for what he chose him for and the Lord works now Christ is a King indeed Now if you will not have the Lord to reign over you you will be found enemies to the Lords Kingdom SECT V. HEnce it will follow The soul is to act wholly and only from the Lord Iesus Christ and whatever fruits of love it shows to Christ to bring them forth from Christ. Which doth not only concern them that never yet knew Christ and yet pride up themselves in what they have and do but those that be in Christ in a special manner For Iohn 15. 2. Every Branch in me that brings not forth fruit 'T is not meant of one indeed in Christ for he shall bring forth fruit but every branch i. e. by outward profession so that it brings not forth fruit but appears fair and deceives man God will cast away And without me even ye Disciples can do nothing 1. How is the soul to act from Christ only when it hath life especially the elect 2. By what means may this be done to get and keep this chastity First How is the soul to act from Christ alone when there is sanctification within 1. If the soul feel no power to act from Grace received as Saints somtimes do either after Gods deserting them or their forsaking God long or after some hardning sin then 't is clear the soul in this case is though not in a way of carelesseness to depend upon the Lord Jesus that he would quicken and help As David after his grosse fall Lord create in me a clean heart And Isa. 63. 17. Why hast thou hardned our hearts from thy fear Oh return In this case the soul is not to bring the soul to God but God to the soul. As many a Christian cannot prize not love the Lord not his waies he is not to say I will bring my soul and oâ—fer it to him but look to the Lord that he would raise up my dead affections again As the Centurion of his Servant Speak the word c. Christ marveiled at his Faith Men think when they feel nothing that they must and can work it out and hence comes one of these three things 1. Either the soul cannot love Christ when it sees such Lawes it cannot submit to And hence a Christian once said to me If the least thing was left for me to do of my self I could not love Christ but now that when brought low and can do nothing he brings all the help we need This makes the Spouse go to the bosom of her Husband Psal. 116. 6 7. Or else 2. It cannot do it for corruption in a Saint is too hard for his Grace I am but a child and thy people many 1 Kings 3. 7. Hence he must be strong in the Lord. Or 3. If it do it never hath any peace in what it doth the duties never so well done Whereas otherwise the poorest duty done from Christ witnesse Heb. 11. 4 5. as a child begoâ— of the Father he will own but other children not If any poor tired heart that heaâ—s me this day thou hast been making thy Brick and promises and vowes will not help
while this feâ—â— lasts you will not long till needs must to be with 〈…〉 you fear or suspect Christ as an enemy you will not hearâ—â—ly love 〈…〉 long to be with him therefore get these fears removed How may this be â—om 8. 15 16. By the Spirit of Adoption only for though I do not exclude the work of sanctified reason from the witnesse of the Spirit yet this I say that all the men in the world nor all the wisdom and reason of man can never chase away all fears scatter all mists till the Spirit it self saith peace and be still and puts its hand and seal to the Evidence till the Spirit not by an audible but powerâ—â— voice shews and â—erswades Acts 12. 13 14 15 16. They had been praying for Pâ—ter Peter knocks the Damsel saith Peter is there now see their unbelief after such a mighty Spirit of Prayer 'T is his Angel say they and could not be perswaded till he came in and shewed himself So the soul is praying a mans own Spirit goes out and sees there is more unbelief and fear say no ' â—is a delusion well the Spirit still knocks and the soul opens and then he comes in and the soul is astonished And that you may have it 1. See there he no guilt upon thy conscience no reservation love liking to some lost Heb. 10. 22. For these fears are commonly the fruit of guilt which is not washed away but by the blood of sprinkling 2. Pray for the Sâ—irit Psalm 8 5. from 4. to 9. say they 1. Tâ—â—n us from siâ— 2. Turn from thy â—rath when the Father is angry then no good word 3. The end That our hearts may rejoyce â—â— thee 4. Sâ—ew us mercy 5. Then they come to listen after it for many times a Friend speaks not because he hath us not alone 3. Moâ—â—n heavily for want of it Psal. 51. 8 and so look for it in a word Labour to partake of the fellowship of Christs Resurrection else no desires can be raised up Col. 3 1. 2. Quest. What is that Ans. Look as we then have fellowship with Christ and with the Churâ—h in miseries when we from the serious apprehension of their sorrows condole and 〈◊〉 with them so with Christ in Glory when from serious deep apprehensions of his Glory we reign with him we are risen with him for let a man be assured Christ is not his if he knows not what the worth and glory of his fellowship is a man will then never long to be with him Oh therefore labour to compâ—ehend this glory of the Lord Jesus and that by the spiâ—it of Revelation Ephes. 1. 17. 18. The word reveals the Glory of Saints that there is a kingdom that they shall be Perfect in one that they shall have that Glory the Father hath given to Christ Iohn 17. 22. Oh get the Spirit to shew thee the thing what this means what this is else somthing in the world will make you look back There are false Spies that vilifie Gods Kingdom to his Saints Oh say 't is a good God and countrey and Christ and Mercy and love let me go up and possesse it Oâ— get the Lord to give thee but one glimpse of this Thus much of the first verse CHAP. XII Shewing that there are Hypocrites in the best and purest Churches V. 2. And five of them were wise and five were foolish SECT I. FRom this Second verse to the Fifth there is set down the difference appearing between the Virgins wherein the Lord the searcher of hearts makes an open discovery of the particular estates of these Virgins for all the best Churches especially to take notice of to the second coming of the Lord Jesus This difference is set down 1. Generally in this second verse 2. Particularly in the 3 d and 4 th verses I. Generally in this verse 1. That some of them were sincere and wise-hearted to the number of five 2. Others of them were foolish and false-hearted to the number of five more So that the summe is this one half of them were indeed Virgins another half were in appearance Virgins the one part were Virgins in the sight of God who saith they are wise the other were so in the judgment of man and hence called foolish ones In this general description therefore of them we may note First Their description from the number of each sort viz. five Secondly From their different qualities or qualifications holy wisdom or prudence in the one sinful folly in the other He doth not say five were holy and five prophane five were friends to the Bridegroom five were â—ersecutors of him but five were wise and five were foolish Why the Virgins are described by the number of ten Ispake before either because it was a perfect number and so signifies the estate of all Virgin-Churches or because it was the custom not to exceed the number of Ten to honour them at their Marriage Now why five of them were wise and five foolish as though the one half of them only were sincere the other false this seems to carry the face of Truth but I am fearful to rack torment Parables wherein I chiefly look unto the scope and that is this that not one or two but a great part of them were sincere and a great part of them false And hence the Observations out of these words are these omitting all the rest 1. That when the Churches of Christ Iesus prove Virgin-Churches and are most pure yet even then there will be some secret Hypocrites that shall mingle themselves with them Or There will be a number of Hypocrites mingling themselves with the purest Churches 2. That when the Churches are Virgin-Churches the Hypocrites in those times will be Evangelical Or The secret Hypocrites of pure Churches are Evangelical 3. That there are certain special saving qualifications of heart whereby ariseth a great internal difference between sincere-hearted Virgins and the closest Hypocrites 4. That the Spring or one main principle of Evangelical sincerity or hypocrisie it lies in the understanding or mind of man SECT II. THat there is and will be a mixture of close Hypocrites with the wise-hearted Virgins in the purest Churches This I might manifest out of several Scriptures from several times Look but upon Iosias time where there was as great a reformation as under any King before him 2 King 23. 25. Yet Ier. 3. 10. 4. 3 4. Look on the Apostles time and what apostacy afterward The Apostle complained of it Every one seeks their own Phil. 2. 21. Many walk c. Phil. 3. 18 19. Whom he could not think on without tears The mystery of iniquity began to work even then Christ manifests this by divers Parables Mat. 22. 14. Many are called and so called as to come in and so sit and not to be known till the Lord looks on them And here the wise-hearted could not discern and keep out
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
receive it 't is not thy sin to refuse it but 't is such a sin that all men that perish under the sound of the Gospel are principally condemned for Secondly 'T is offered really I put in this because men cannot see the reality of this because not Christ but Ministers they think only make it and so the offer is only external and Ministerial the Lord himself they think is not of that mind Answ. 1. What any Minister according to the Gospel doth that Christ would do if he was here present hence 2 Cor. 5. 20. We beseech you in his sâ—ead as Embassadours speak what the King himself would do and no more and himself would speak what they do if he was present and hence Christ did not only preach the Gospel to his Elect that should receive him but to them who did reject him also which made his blessed heart and eyes also break forth into teares Oh that thou hadst known c. 2. 'T is Christ in them which doth speak Heb. 12. 25. Him that speaks from heaven and hence Ephes. 2. 17. He came and preached peace when he was gone up to Heaven and hence receiving of these Ministers and Embassadours of Christ is receiving of Christ despising of them is despising of Christ and look as the bowels of God the â—athers love are opened iâ— Christ so the bowels of Christs love are opened in those whom he sends Never didst thou see any Minister pity thy condition and offer peace to thee but because Christ put it in his heart and as in rejecting the Gospel you shall not sad their spirits so much as Christs Spirit in them so in accepting è contrà 3. Your life and salvation and certainty of mercy from Christ hangs upon your receiving their Word for men wi I say If Christ were here I durst believe his Word I tell you the Lord hangs thy life upon believing their Word spoken according to him Iohn 17. 20. I pray for them that shall believe in me through their word Why not through my word Answ. These may stand well together my word as the foundation their word as building upon it their word in the external administration and view of man but my word indeed my word in their mouths and so their word as instruments under that principal agent so that if an Angel or one should rise from the dead I should not look for more certainty of life by believing these than them Christ will speak no more till he shakes down heaven and earth with his voice but their word he honours and saith Believe it their word is not Christ hath loved thee but Believe that thou mayst be beloved of Christ. 4. The Lord is so real here that he punisheth men more for this than if he was present Christ lived among the Jeweâ— and preached they crucified him and rejected him in his person yet this cast them not off till Luke 13. 46. they put away the offers of grace by the Servants of Christ from them and now the Apostles are to shake off the dust of their feet against such as those Thirdly It is offered with vehement desires to accept of it 2 Cor. 6. 1. Psal. 81. 11. We beseech you receive not Gods grace in vaine for you may say There is some offer but the Lord desires it not in good earnest never did man desire to get the affection of another most beautiful as the Lord doth thee that hast none we use to judge of the affection of another to a thing by what he is willing to part with for it As he that sold all for the pearle and bought it So the Lord is content to part with all he hath to thee the dearest thing he hath is his precious blood and all fruits and benefits of it his Spirit to comfort himself to dwell with thee his Father to love thee his Kingdome to receive thee his sweetest promises to assure and stablish thee all things except his glory it is â—ot fit that you should receive that but for him to receive it from thee and giving it to him is better than having of it to thy self To thee I say that art like an incarnate Devil Dead and Damned and undone for ever unless thou accept of this Grace is all this Mercy of the Gospel tendered Fourthly It is offered freely Isa. 55. 1 2. For this makes many stand and wonder Why should the Lord make love to me so vile so unworthy good for nothing but to sin dry bones or what need hath the Lord of me what can I do for him what can I add to him why goeth he not into the Palaces of Princes to call in them but that he should deale thus with me that have sinned worse than Paul â—efore conversion not ignorantly I have known the grace of Christ yet rejected it and have gone on desperately have been mad in following my lovers forsaking the Lord True I know no cause but only his free love because he hath compassion on thee and because 't is for his grace sake hence he desires it vehemently for that is worthy to be honoured received embraced of thee Methinks it is in this case as 't is with poor Marines whose ship is wrackt many drowned and they cast upon the shore one comes to them and offers them house and meat and home they tell him We are poor men havenothing to pay true I know that but I have compassion upon you because I see you are distressed men so 't is here with the Lord Jesus I know thou hast nothing to require me but I have compassion upon thee accept my grace take it live upon it because thou art a distressed soul God hath shewn wondrous mercy in giving life now I offer more one would thâ—nk now surely men should be glad to accept of this grace Quest. Vpon what tâ—rmes is this offer of love made Answ. There is nothing required but only and meerly receiving of it Iohn 1. 12. Under the Law it was Do all this but the Gospel saith not so but Reâ—eive me who have done all and suffered also with thy whole heart as it was in the Land of promise nothing required but going up and possess it here it 's no more Prov. 4. 8. She shall bring thee to hâ—nour when thou dost embrace her The offer of love is like the offer of a rich portion nothing required but receiving it thankfully and so living upon it so Psal. 16. 5 6 7. I thank the Lord that gave me counsel c. Or as it is in the offer of a Prince to a Traitour he offers life to him Upon what termes I could crush thee as a fly between my fingers but I desire nothing only accept my favour come and embrace me and then live under my Government in my Kingdome because that I love thy company and because here is my honour and thy safety so doth the Lord in the Gospel the Lord professeth he had rather a soul
89 90. sence of it awakeneth security part 2. p. 47 50. assordeth comfort p. 39 40. how it is reallized to the soul. par 2. p. 28 29. Coming of Christ its concomitants ib. effects part 2. p. 48 49. it is terrible ib. Comfort not to be too soon or easily taken part 2. p. 85. when and how to be taken p. 86 87. Comforts denied to Saints what and why so part 1. p. 70 71 72. Common grace no ground of comfort part 1. p. 139. Compassion of Christ to the wise and foolish Virgins part 2. p. 42 43. it should awaken the secure part 2. p. 44 45. Communion with Christ the Saints priviledge part 2. p. 123 124. the properties of it p. 125. Communication of good no ground of mens boasting part 2. p. 93 94. Confidence of Christs coming characterized part 2. p. 41. Conflicts attend Saints if not secure part 2. p. 21. Conversion of others not to be hastily concluded part 2. p. 65. Conscience quiet no sign of true grace part 1. p. 139. Content in the Lord Iesus Christ the Saints duty and when to be acted part 2. p. 128 129 130 131. Cry at Christs coming what it is and why part 2. p. 32 34. Comfort in desertion part 2. p. 191. D. Day of grace not to be sleighted part 1. p. 120 121. Day of Christs coming to judgement certain part 1. p. 91. seen by the believer how p. 89. Death to be desired by Saints part 1. p. 104. in what cases not to be desired p. 101. it may take the goaly in an uncomfortable frame but not void of grace part 2. p. 145. Delay of grace dangerous part 2. p. 157. Defilement of Virgins what part 1. p. 38. Desires of this world wherein lawful part 1. p. 103 104. wherein sinful p. 102. Desires of the godly and hypocrite differenced part 2. p. 77. Desires of grace consist with want of it and destroy many part 2. p. 75 76. in hypocrites last not p. 78 79 81. Dishonour attends the unholy part 2. p. 55 56. Divorce from others necessary to Virgins that will meet Christ. part 1. p. 11. Divorce of Christians from Lust. part 1. p. 6. Law part 1. p. 7. Door of grace and glory shut on the wicked part 2. p. 155. why and when p. 156 158 159. Dreaming a note of security part 2. p. 6 7. E. Enjoyment of the world and Christ inconsistent part 1. p. 15. Entertainment of the Virgins at the Bridegrooms coming different part 2. p. 121 122. of the wise Virgins ibid. of the foolish what p. 158. Espousal unto Christ how to be effected part 1. p. 14 15 115 116 117 118 119 Expectation of Christs coming and its effects part 1. p. 82 83. Examination of Church-members the grounds of it and Objections about it answered part 2. p. 197. F. Faith to be judged part 1. p. 79. false known by four notes p. 80 81 82. Faith its life of rest different from that of sloth part 2. p. 22. Faith its fulness not attainable by hypocrites part 1. p. 205 206 207 208. Fall of professors not to be admired par 1. p. 120. it is incident to the best p. 233 234. Faln Saints must endeavour to recover part 1. p. 239 240. False hearted their misery part 1. p. 125. False hopes fearful at Christ his coming part 2. p. 161. Fearlesseness a note of security par 2. p. 5. Fellowship with Christ in Ordinances how had part 1. p. 107 108 109. Flagging in duty wherein it is par 2. p. 20 Folly and security found in Virgin Churches part 2. p. 10. Forgetfulness of God a note of security part 2. p. 5. Fulness of grace what it is part 1. p. 195. it belongs to Saints part 1. p. 190 191. is wanting to hypocrites p. 192 193. wherein satisfying part 2. p. 182. G. Glory of God the end of all his dealings part 1. p. 62. sometimes denied by Saints and how p. 63 64 65. Glory of grace how given to God part 1. p. 66. Going forth to meet the Bridegroom what it meaneth part 1. p. 67 68. Gospel wherein glorious part 1. p. 98 99. Gospel-hypocrites are the worst part 1. p. 121 122 123. their Characters p. 126 127 128 129. Grace to be carefully kept part 2. p. 74. true and false differ more than in the efficient cause part 1. p. 135. true how to be judged p. 144 145. it is created in us by the Spirit p. 174. not communicated at mens pleasure part 1. p. 90 91. that of the wise will not profit the foolish part 1. p. 89. nor is it communicated when desired from them p. ib. Grace enjoyed must not be denied part 1. p. 144. Grace common and coâ—nterfeit will fail and how it doth so par 2. p. 62 63 64 65 Grace true is constant and eternal part 1. p. 228 229. Graces created denied by some part 1. p. 176 177. their activity denied p. 178 179. their evidence denied p. 180 181. H. Hearing the way to get the Spirit part 1. p. 103 104. Holiness what it is part 2. p. 53. how when and before whom the Saints honour p. 54 55. it looketh not for honour from men p. 57. Honour of holiness how gained part 2. p. 59 60. how preserved p. 61. Honour of the unholy vile part 2. p. 57. Humility fits for Christ his second coming part 1. p. 61. HumiliatioÌ„ its fulness not attainable by hypocritespar 1. p. 195 196 197 198 199 Hypocrites are in purest Churches part 1. p. 115. how it cometh to pass p. 116 117. they have some inward touches of the spirit yet but touches p. 191 192. Hypocrisie its acts and its cure part 1. p. 150 151. I. Illumination its fulness not attainable by hypocrites part 1. p. 200 201 202. Inward principle of grace the want of it examined part 1. p. 182 183 184. and aggravated p. 185. Insensibility an hindrance of grace part 1. p. 171. Insensibilitie of the want of grace a sad estate part 2. p. 69 70. K. Kingdom of Heaven what it meaneth part 1. p. 3 4. King the same to the Church visible and invisible part and p. ib. Knowledge of Christ necessary part 1. p. 73. what it is p. 74 75. how gained p. 76 77 78. common what p. 201. saving what it is p. 202 203 204. L. Lamps the taking them what it meaneth part 1. p. 39. Lamps their glory what it is and wherein part 2. p. 52. Laws of heaven in the Church visible part 1. p. 4. League with lust what it is and how known part 1. p. 17. with Law what p. 19. Light the danger of declining it part 1. p. 148 149. it is peculiar to Saints p. 200. some in Lamps of foolish Virgins p. 201. Looking for Christ his coming the Virgins duty part 1. p. 96. encouraged p. 97. directed p. 98. and characterized p. 94 95 Longing for Christ his appearance Virgins property part 1. p. 99. why so p. 100. Longing