The Bridegroom is here looked for, the presence of Christ Jesus is longed for, he comes in the night, they must meet him in the night. Now means they use, Lamps they take, and so much Oil as kindles their Lamps; but Oil they take not in their Vessels, the only means to preserve their Lamps from going out, that so they may meet the Lord and not be shut out from the Lord, as at last these careless Virgins were. Search the Churches for the present, search the Records of Ages past, many have desired the Lord and looked for the Lord, and yet have lost the Lord their end: Why so? They never had hearts effectually to use and improve the means to that end, either outward or inward. Look upon men out of the Church, they perish because they have no remedy, they have no Lamps to light, they have no Bread to eat, no Means to help. But why do those within the Church perish? Is it because there is no remedy? No, but because they do not use the remedy. Is it because they want Means? No, but because they do not effectually improve means. Here they fall short, herein they discover themselves. Look but upon this next Parable of the Talents, v.25. One of them was cast off, and cast out. Why? Because he had no Talents? No, But because he had no mind nor list to use his Talent, he did not make his gain out of it to attain his end. All Ordinances of God, and all that time we have under them are Talents. Now wherein do Hypocrites fail? There is a secret gain of Ordinances which Hypocrites regard not, and hence the best hypocrite lives in debt, and die• a Beggar. For Prov. 16. 17. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool, but no heart to use it? Precious Liberties, Ordinances, that many have desired to see, and have not seen them. Why doth the Lord betrust him with such that useth them not? Oh he hath them, but here is his wound, he hath no heart to use them! Look throughout all the Word, Why have many set a great price on Christ, and yet have lost him? Because like higgling Chapmen, they have had a desire to the Commodity, but they have been loath to be at the cost to use the means for it. The Gospel brings Christ and Immortality to light, and this Serpent is lifted up, this Lamb slain before mens eyes, and this Bread put to mens lips and mouths. Why are not all possessed of him, blessed in him? The Lord saith, come, and the Spirit saith, come, and the Bride saith, come;
The Bridegroom is here looked for, the presence of Christ Jesus is longed for, he comes in the night, they must meet him in the night. Now means they use, Lamps they take, and so much Oyl as kindles their Lamps; but Oyl they take not in their Vessels, the only means to preserve their Lamps from going out, that so they may meet the Lord and not be shut out from the Lord, as at last these carelesse Virgins were. Search the Churches for the present, search the Records of Ages past, many have desired the Lord and looked for the Lord, and yet have lost the Lord their end: Why so? They never had hearts effectually to use and improve the means to that end, either outward or inward. Look upon men out of the Church, they perish because they have no remedy, they have no Lamps to light, they have no Bread to eat, no Means to help. But why do those within the Church perish? Is it because there is no remedy? No, but because they do not use the remedy. Is it because they want Means? No, but because they do not effectually improve means. Here they fall short, herein they discover themselves. Look but upon this next Parable of the Talents, v.25. One of them was cast off, and cast out. Why? Because he had no Talents? No, But because he had no mind nor list to use his Talent, he did not make his gain out of it to attain his end. All Ordinances of God, and all that time we have under them are Talents. Now wherein do Hypocrites fail? There is a secret gain of Ordinances which Hypocrites regard not, and hence the best hypocrite lives in debt, and die• a Beggar. For Prov. 16. 17. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool, but no heart to use it? Precious Liberties, Ordinances, that many have desired to see, and have not seen them. Why doth the Lord betrust him with such that useth them not? Oh he hath them, but here is his wound, he hath no heart to use them! Look throughout all the Word, Why have many set a great price on Christ, and yet have lost him? Because like higling Chapmen, they have had a desire to the Commodity, but they have been loath to be at the cost to use the means for it. The Gospel brings Christ and Immortality to light, and this Serpent is lifted up, this Lamb slain before mens eyes, and this Bread put to mens lips and mouths. Why are not all possessed of him, blessed in him? The Lord saith, come, and the Spirit saith, come, and the Bride saith, come;
