The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

1. Of those that fly from the Light, which is done sundry ways. Isle mention only one, that is used by a false heart. A man is troubled in mind concerning his estate, fears death and Hell, and so few shall be saved, how can I be one, &c. How comes he to fear? The Lord hath by his Spirit in the Word discovered and found out his sin, the thief is taken and apprehended, and condemned, he hears still, but yet can find no peace, Why? Because he lives in those sins that he is convinced of. Hence the Word raiseth damps and heart-qualms, that he hath no peace, but is ever pulled from his own bottom and hypocrisy, and the Word discovers more sins, and hence hath no peace: The Word will not give nor offer Christ and a base lust together, nor will not suffer any to have them both in peace. Hereupon the soul finding no rest nor peace (which the false heart seeks for chiefly) flies from the Light, especially if it hath found out a shorter cut to its peace, by any device or golden delusions of men. And now they will hear there no more, and now the Publishers of Gods Truth are tyrannical tormenters of the Consciences of them that be weak, false Prophets, that lead them out of the way of peace. And because of this, they think they were led out of the way of truth, because out of the way of peace. Or if they do come, they can sit with disdain and contempt of men (alas they speak according to their light) and of all the truths of God, which shall one day be preached over again in flames of fire to their eternal horror, Rev. 6. 2. Its said, Christ rides on a white Horse, conquering and to conquer. Men have unruly hearts and strong hearts, and they will not die, nor yield presently. And hence when one sin is cast away, ⟨p. 149⟩another steps into the room of it; and when that is gone, another supplies the place of it, and commonly the strongest sin and temptation is the last. Now hence Christ goes on, rides on in the Chariot of the Word, conquering and to conquer still. Those that do yield, he saves, those that will not, he slays. Now […] poor Creatures have had Christs arrows in them, and are wounded for some sin, but the Lord discovers more still; hence at last they fly away with the arrows in their hearts for ease. Oh poor creatures know it, the Lord Jesus will find you out! You will not be conquered by him, you shall never be saved by him.

1. Of those that flie from the Light, which is done sundry waies. Ile mention onely one, that is used by a false heart. A man is troubled in mind concerning his estate, fears death and Hell, and so few shall be saved, how can I be one, &c. How comes he to fear? The Lord hath by his Spirit in the Word discovered and found out his sin, the thief is taken and apprehended, and condemned, he hears still, but yet can find no peace, Why? Because he lives in those sins that he is convinced of. Hence the Word raiseth damps and heart-qualms, that he hath no peace, but is ever pulled from his own bottom and hypocrisie, and the Word discovers more sins, and hence hath no peace: The Word will not give nor offer Christ and a base lust together, nor will not suffer any to have them both in peace. Hereupon the soul finding no rest nor peace (which the false heart seeks for chiefly) flies from the Light, especially if it hath found out a shorter cut to its peace, by any device or golden delusions of men. And now they will hear there no more, and now the Publishers of Gods Truth are tyrannical tormenters of the Consciences of them that be weak, false Prophets, that lead them out of the way of peace. And because of this, they think they were led out of the way of truth, because out of the way of peace. Or if they do come, they can sit with disdain and contempt of men (alas they speak according to their light) and of all the truths of God, which shall one day be preacht over again in flames of fire to their eternal horrour,