speak Again Job 29. 22. The Pharisees were oft wont to Prate untill Christ put a Question to them concerning his being David's Lord Mat. 22. 45. and then 't is said they neither could Answer him nor durst they Ask him any more Questions v. 46. to signifie how Silencing that God-like Kingly State will be when it shall be Advanced The Dispensation or Appearing of this King will be Evinced by the speechlesness of those unworthy ones whom he Reproveth Mat. 22. 11 12. Errour and Sin may Now be full of words but Then all Flesh is bid be silent Zech. 2. 13. yea all the Earth Hab. 2. 20. MATTHEW XXV 13. Watch therefore for ye know neither the Day nor the Hour wherein the Son of Man cometh IN this Verse we have an Account of Christ's Design in putting forth this Parable or of that principal use which he would have us make thereof viz. Our being Watchfull From whence the General Observation is as followeth Observ Since we Know not the Day or Hour in which the Son of Man will come we therefore ought to be upon our Watch. Quest 1. Why doth Christ call himself the Son of Man with reference unto his Coming in these Latter-dayes Answ 1. To declare his being still a Man though now Ascended and that his Coming at the Last will be in the Humane Nature also Some would sain have him turn'd into a Spirit though he that is now Ascended is also He who first Descended into the Grave Eph. 4. 10. which is not Applicable to the Spirit of Man Eccl. 3. 21. Others will grant him as a Man to be Ascended but not that he will so Return and yet 't is said He shall so Come and in like Manner as he was seen to goe Act. 1. 11. And though his Coming in this Parable will mainly be in a Mystical sence yet will it be the coming of the Son of Man though not his coming As a Man or in his Person till Afterwards save as some Man or Men may Represent him Now as Hezekiah did of Old Isa 32. 1 2. 2. To shew the Nature of his Kingly Dispensation at such a time in point of Visibility and Temporality which is most Aptly shaddowed out by his then coming As the Son of Man His Ecclesiastical and Spiritual Kingdom was set up at first besides both which he had Another Kingdom Then though it was not Immediately to Appear Luke 19. 11 which therefore must be Temporal Now that which is meerly Spiritual is fitlyest resembled by the Soul as Christ with reference unto his spiritual Kingdom is called the Shepherd of his Peoples Souls 1 Pet. 2. 25. but that which is Temporal by the Man Thus David's Temporal Rule was over Men 2 Sam. 23. 3. and as Christ at his Personal coming is called a Man Act. 17. 31. so with respect unto the Assyrians coming before that time this Man 't is said shall be the Peace Mic. 5. 5. 3. To shew the Greatness of his Humility He was God's Equal upon Earth Phil. 2. 6 and he as Man is far above the Angels Now Heb. 1. 13 yet doth he style himself the Son of Man He will Then have that Name the King of Kings upon his Thigh Rev. 19. 16 but in his Mouth the Son of Man which is a Worm Job 25. 6. Thus was Ezekiel oft-times called to make him Humble and thus Christ did as often call himself to shew that he is so When Israel was come into the Land of Canaan they kept no more the Feast of Tabernacles or the Memorial of their former Low Condition till Nehemiah's time but Then it was revived Neh. 8. 17. which Dispensation was a Type of this And when that self-abasing Feast shall Mystically be Observed in these latter dayes then shall men thereby know that Verily the Son of Man is come 4. To hint perhaps the Meanness of his First appearing in these Latter dayes according to the Constant Purport of that Phrase the Son of Man yea with respect to Christ himself Heb. 2. 6. That as Himself who Truely was the Son of Man is onely said to have been Like him Afterwards Rev. 1. 13. he is so Altered Now from what he sometime was so will it be with reference to his Dispensation He will at Last come as the Son of Man Mat. 24. 30 because the Whole of his Own Personal Reign will be but Mean compared with the Father's Kingdom Afterwards 1 Cor. 15. 28. And so may his Precursory coming here be fitly called that of the Son of Man because it will be Mean compared with his Personal when he shall Gloriously appear as God Tit. 2. 13. or in the Glory of his Father Mat. 16. 27. 5. To signifie perhaps the great Humanity or Familiarity of his Conversing with the Sons of Men excepting some at his Appearing His Enemies indeed will be then Burnt up round about Psal 97. 3. but yet his Anger will cease in their Destruction Isa 10. 25. and he will then Rest in his Love Zeph. 3. 17. He did Approve himself on Earth to be the Son of Man by suffering his Disciples to Ask him any thing Joh. 15. 15. to sit with him at Meat Joh. 13. 18 Yea by his Rising to Wait on them v. 4 5. and so will it be Now. Therefore Christ bids his people Ask of him at such a time Isa 45. 11 and they shall then sit with him Rev. 3. 21. yea he will then Rise and Serve them Luke 12. 37. This King of Glory will not be stately but as Himself at Last so he Now in his People will Affably appear to All or as the Son of Man Quest 2. Why is that called the Coming of Christ which yet 't is thought will be so long before his Personal or Proper Coming Answ Because of the full Resemblance that is between them as may be thus made out 1. With respect unto the Signs of Both. Christ's Personal Coming will be notified by many Signs both in the Sun and Moon and Stars and Earth and Sea and Powers of Heaven Luke 21. 25 26 so will This Coming be We have had wonderfull signs of such a Nature and in the Letter of Later years though we Now see them not Psalm 74. 9. And in the Mystery yet more Abundantly The Scriptures fitly answering to the Sun or Fountain of Created Light have been extreamly Darkned as Mat. 24. 29 and more especially some Part thereof And that which Borroweth its Light from thence or Moon-like Preaching hath been turn'd into Blood as Joel 2. 31. at least not given her Light Mat. 24. 29. Church-Officers are called Stars Rev. 1. 20 and these have sadly fallen Mat. 24. 29 at least withdrawn their shining Joel 3. 15. The Earth or Civil State of things hath oft-times Quaked The Sea or Many Waters denoteth People Rev. 17. 15 whose Waves have roared The Powers of Heaven also or of the Churches have been shaken 2. With reference unto the state of things Immediately
on the whole Armour of God Eph. 6. 13. and of abounding 2 Pet. 1. 8 in one Grace added to another v. 5. that so we might not fall v. 10. nor can there be true Grace without it v. 9. III. These Foolish Virgins may here be said to take no Oyl 1. Because they had not the Oyl of Grace but onely that of Nature as is most evident because their Oyl did wholly fail Mat. 25. 8. which that of Grace will never do but springeth up to Everlasting Life John 4. 14. Now that which is not of the Noblest kind is oft times represented as if it had no Being Thus Rational Creatures are called the World John 3. 16. and True Believers all Things Col. 1. 20. and Idols or false gods Nothing 1 Cor. 8. 4. And thus may Nature's Oyl or Light be termed None at all This quells their Pride who Glory in a thing of Nought and shews their sin who Nullifie tâ—ue Grace by making it the same for Kind with Nature 2. Because this very Common Oyl was onely in their Lamps not in their Vessels They had some good Affections but were not Acted by a solid Principle in their first going forth for then their Light would have continued Since the Command had that been eyed was every whit as clear or rather more the second time Now injudicious Acts are counted none and therefore although the Jews did oft-times Pray with much self-humbling yet it is said they Prayed not Dan. 9. 13. nor were they Humbled to that day Jer. 44. 10. because they onely did such things from flashy Affections and not from Judgment How sadly Fools will sometimes weep which yet among the Wise is counted Nothing 3. Because this Oyl was spent at least they would not use it when there was most Occasion for its Light or when the Cry was made at Mid-night Now useless things are said to have No Being as Job's un-useful Friends are called Nothing Job 6. 21. nor ever had such things some kind of Being in which regard that onely seemeth to be had which proves unprofitable in the Issue unto its Owner Luke 8. 18. Well therefore may Professors go for workers of Iniquity Mat. 7. 23. when they back-slide because their Zeal is gone when Christ and they stand most in need thereof which therefore is in such a case as if it had not been at all Christ Represents these Foolish Virgins as those who took no Oyl at first Quest 3. Why were Lamps taken by these Virgins who took no Oyl Answ 1. Because they needs must have a Form of Godliness else all Wise Virgins would cast them off and not be for Communion with them therefore so small a matter shall not part them Saul was desirous of Samuel's Continuance with him which made him do more than otherwise he would have done 1 Sam. 15. 30. Formal Professors would gladly shine with others Beams especially if empty Lamps put into a common stock will make them Partners Yea Conscience it self will not be quiet without the stirring of some Affections but if those Lamps be to be seen poor Fools are satisfied Those are not worthy to be called Virgins whose Outside is not very Neat and Trim. 2. Because these Lamps are Light Compared with Vessels full of Oyl which therefore lazy Hypocrites will rather chuse to bear Oyl in a Gracious Heart is like to Water in its Element which is not Ponderous but unto others 't is Grievous to be born who therefore have no delight to carry it The Light of this Sacred Oyl is like that of the Sun Discovering Moats as well as Dirt both which an Hypocrite can bear the Presence but not the Sight of in such a Reproving way who therefore hateth it John 3. 20. This Oyl is also thought too Dear because the Heart or Vessel must be emptied of other things which none but Fools will either wonder at or grudge But yet such therefore are conteâ—â—â—o be without it 3. Such possibly may think they have this Oyl of Grace or that it is not now to take and upon that Account it may be left behind through self-undoing self-conceit There have been self-deceivers in all Ages who yet do most abound in these last days of ours or in the Declining State of Churches and Professors Typified by those self-conceited Laodiceans who were the last of those Typical Asian Churches Which sad mistake ariseth partly from lothness to enquire lest Conscience should be disquieted or lest the Soul should suffer loss as when Brass Money is become one's own its Owner will not therefore let another rub it Partly because they might think Oyl inseparable from a Lamp or that Affections are always Spiritually Judicious and having Lamps did thence conclude their having Oyl Partly from Spiritual Pride because Hypocrites would not be thought to want so main a business And partly from the Resemblance that is between Special and Common Oyl or Grace and Nature as is between Tin and Silver which therefore at least by Fools are oft Confounded 4. These Foolish Virgins thought they had enough to serve their present turn and Hypocrites are for no more in matters of a Spiritual Nature As is the work such is the need of suitable Instruments a wooden Needle may serve to stitch some coarser Cloth together And their first going forth was Manifestly of a Lower Nature I will not say that Gospel-Grace is absolutely necessary unto the Second going forth for then all of that sort must be concluded to be Real Saints from that very Act of going out which I dare not affirm unless the whole of that Duty be performed which I shall clear up afterwards but something far short of Grace might carry these out at first as is apparent both from the Issue and from the Nature of that fore-named work which might Occasion this neglect 5. Such might at least-wise think this Special Oyl was to be had in Time although they had it not at present And Hypocrites are not for being over-hasty in looking out for Christ's Commodities They might presume to borrow Oyl of their Companions in case of need or that they should have time enough to buy it as may be gathered from their attempting afterwards in both these ways to be supplied Such are acquainted with Christ's tender Bowels and readiness to help poor sinners which is abused by them to indulge their present carelessness and to delay their closing with a present Offer though to the hazarding of their Eternal State by dallying with such Opportunities Quest 4. How came they to go forth at first not having this Light or Oyl And not as well the Second Time Answ 1. At their first going out they were in the Primâ—â—â— their Affections and Zeal for Duties of such a Nature There was some kind of another Heart like that of Saul's 1 Sam. 10. 9. bestowed upon all Professors at that time which raised them unto an higher pitch than Ordinary They were then like to Ground
Fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5. 22. whose Sallet is better than a stalled Ox Prov. 15. 17. and a Man's Kindness is his Desire Prov. 19 22. Yea all the Substance of his House compared with Love is utterly to be contemned Cant. 8. 7. Christ's Love is better than Wine Cant. 1. 2. and his Loving kindness than Life it self Psal 63. 3. nor doth the Cedar Wood or Silver Pillars or Golden Bottom or Purple Covering so much set out his stately Chariot as that its Midst is Paved with Love Cant. 3. 9 10. Yea Christ doth also count his People's Love much better than Wine Cant. 4. 10. remembring Israel's Kindness Jer. 2. 2. whom he oft proved to know their Love Deut. 13. 3. his Valuation whereof appeareth by what he hath prepared for such as Love him 1 Cor. 2. 9. and therefore David Desired to greater Mercy than what he had for such Psal 119. 132. 6. Affections are the Bringers forth of Actions and as no Work is done at all in Case Affections be wholly wanting so where â—hâ—se are not strong and Lively nothing is done with Joy or without Dâ—fficulty Judgment is as the Head and our Affections as the Feâ—t Therâ—â—ore he cutteth off the Feet who sendeth by a Fool that wanteth both Prov. 26. 6. At least-wise our Affections are as the Wheels unto a Chariot which Driveth Heavily when those are taken off Exod. 14. 25. Love is the sleight of Acting which doth not call its Dâ—ty Grievous 1 John 5. 3. nor is it Quenched with many Waters Cant. 8. 7. but doth constrain 2 Cor. 5. 14. in spight of all Discouragements 2 Cor. 12. 15. Whereas Men void of Love to Christ complain of Weariness Mal. 1. 13. wishing the Work were over Amos 8. 5. and waiting for an Opportunity of being Discharged from it which he who Loves his Master will not Accept of Exod. 21. 5. Let us therefore keep up Affections unless we have a mind to cast off Duty 7. Affections have a re-acting Inflâ—ence upâ—n the Judgment as they are Weak or Lively which should provoke our Câ—re in that regard Lamps in the Letter do onely spend their Oyl or Light which in the Mystery is Multiplyed by a flaming good Affection and Drieth up together with its Going out Nay though Oyl may be in the Vessel yet is there no Propâ—r Light save as that Oyl is fired in the Lamp or good Affection Therefore Men never want sufficient Light for that which they Affect but Generally do complain of Darkness together with the setting of their Love Those Jews had not the Love of God in them John 5. 42. who therefore said they Knew not Christ John 7. 27. although they Knew him well enough v. 28. Nor is it to be wondred at since Things or Persons not Affected are noâ— much Heeded yea most Men's Judgments are Commanded by Affections since the Fall Therefore if once our Lampâ— go out we shall no longer see our Way into a Dis-affected Duty 8. Affections also are very Tickle and therein like to Lamps which if they be not Guarded will soon Blow out A Garmâ—nt may have lost its Gloss whose Substance is not yet Consumed a Razor may-have lost its Edge which is not yet Gap't or Broken a Flower may have shed its Leâ—ves whose Root and Stâ—lk do still continue Such is the Fading Nature of Men's Affections The Spouses Hâ—â—râ— or Judgment was Awake when her Affections were asleep Cant. 5. 2. and there may be Love in the Root for Christ as was in Peter whose Fruit or Exercise was wholly gone when he Denied him Yea one may Act for God and yet without Affection Witness not onely Zipporah's Angry Duty Exod. 4. 25. and others snuffing at it Mal. 1. 13. but also the Consistency that is between One's giving Alms Mat. 6. 2. and yet omitting Mercy Mat. 23. 23. yea all a Man's Goods unâ—o the Poor yet without Charity 1 Cor. 13. 3. Affections are like Crystal Glasses quickly crackt but not by Man to be Amended 9. If our Affections be not fixed upon Christ they will then fasten otherwhere unto our Dis-advantage One may have Power over his own Will in point of Marriage 1 Cor. 7. 37. who yet must needs Affect something or other and if not Christ then either Sin or Creature-comforts will have all Incline my Heart unto thy Law saith David and not to Covetousness Psal 119. 36. q. d. if Thou dost not secure me for thy self then Mammon will be sure to have me Affections cannot keep their Virgin-state but will Espouse some Early Object And when Souls are not alway Ravish'd with Christ's Love the Serpent will creep in upon them Yea if ought else be Master of our Affections God will be Hated by us Mat. 6. 24. there being no Middle kind of Abnegation on either part between him and the Creature as is between one Creature and another Therefore let us Affect Christ and our Duty else will it not be long before we Hate them both 10. God's Love unto his People doth provoke their suitable Return else will they be Inferiour unto Publicans Mat. 5. 46. and Sinners Luke 6. 32. He Loved them first which doth prevent Upbraiding but calls for after-love 1 John 4. 19. His Love to them surpasseth Knowledge Eph. 3. 19. and shall their Love to him not be made known at all or very little He Loves them with an Everlasting Love Jer. 31. 3. And did a stream yet ever fail without a wonder whose Spring continued No Man hath Greater Love from any than have the Saints from Christ John 15. 13. and are they not then unworthy of him in case they Love ought More than him Mat. 10. 37 He loved them when in their Blood Ezek. 16. 8. whilst they were Sinners Rom. 5. 8. and shall not they love this altogether lovely one Cant. 5. 16. whose sharpest Rebukes are big with Love Rev. 3. 19 especially such who have had much forgiven Luke 7. 42. Nothing can separate them from the Love of God in Christ Rom. 8. 39. who then shall seperate Christ from their Love of him v. 35 37 38 11. Love is the greatest Factor and many times with very little Charge which should Encourage us to keep it up for Christ with utmost care A good Man sets his Love upon the Lord therefore God Promiseth to Deliver him because he thereby seems to know his Name Psal 91. 14. whereas bare want of Love to Christ incurrs the saddest Excommunication 1 Cor. 16. 22. Yea David's Love was amply Recompensed when it was onely in his Heart to Build an House for God 2 Sam. 7. 11. 1 Chron. 28. 3. therefore the Poorest Saint shall be Rewarded for their Benevolence which some could never Evidence save by their good Affection Mat. 25. 34 35. And if Saints shall be dealt with by the Lord according to then Love their Portion then must needs be Endless for such hath been their good Affection however short their Actions be Yea