The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

Hence take heed of contenting your selves with every kind of knowledge:¹ Do not worship every Image in your own Heads; especially you that fall short of Truth or the knowledge of it; for when you have some, there may be yet that wanting which may make you sincere. There are many men of great knowledge, able to reach themselves and others too, and yet their hearts are unsound. How comes this to pass? Is it because they have so much light? No, but because they want much; and therefore content not your selves with every knowledge. There is some knowledge which men have by the light of nature (which leaves them without excuse) from the Book of Creation, some by power of education, some by the light of the Law, whereby men may know their sin and evils, some by the Letter of the Gospel, and so men may know much, and speak well, and so in seeing see not; some by the Spirit, and may see much, so as to prophesy in Christs Name, and yet be bid depart, Mat. 7. Now there is a Light of Glory, whereby the Elect see things in another manner; to tell you how, they cannot, its the beginning of light in Heaven, and the same Spirit that fills Christ, filling their minds, that they know by this anointing all things; which if ever you have, you must become Babes and Fools in your own eyes. God will never write his Law in your minds, till all the Scribblings of it are blotted our. Account all your knowledge loss for the gaining of this. 'Tis sad to see many a man pleasing himself in his own dreaming delusions, yet the poor creature in seeing sees not, which is Gods heavy curse upon men under greatest means, and which lays all wast and desolate, Isa. 6. How long? Until all be wast, V. II.

Hence take heed of contenting your selves with every kind of knowledge:¹ Do not worship every Image in your own Heads; especially you that fall short of Truth or the knowledge of it; for when you have some, there may be yet that wanting which may make you sincere. There are many men of great knowledge, able to reach themselves and others too, and yet their hearts are unsound. How comes this to passe? Is it because they have so much light? No, but because they want much; and therefore content not your selves with every knowledge. There is some knowledge which men have by the light of nature (which leaves them without excuse) from the Book of Creation, some by power of education, some by the light of the Law, whereby men may know their sin and evils, some by the Letter of the Gospel, and so men may know much, and speak well, and so in seeing see not; some by the Spirit, and may see much, so as to prophesie in Christs Name, and yet be bid depart,