The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

SECT. I.

That within these Vessels, is an inward Principle of Life and Grace.¹ Or, The burning shining profession of all the faithful, it proceedeth from an inward Principle of the Spirit of Grace, by the means of which, their Lamp burns, and their Profession shines.

THat within these Vessels, is an inward Principle of Life and Grace.¹ Or, The burning shining profession of all the faithful, it proceedeth from an inward Principle of the Spirit of Grace, by the means of which, their Lamp burns, and their Profession shines.

1. 1Doct. 2.

For this I understand by oil in the vessel, the Spirit of Jesus, not out of us, but received in us; not coming only upon us, for so he may on foolish virgins, by Balaamitish ravishments, and hypocritical pangs, and land-flood affections; but abiding in us, and that not as it doth in hypocrites, but as it is in Christ Jesus, without measure, both Spirit and Graces, so it abides in us in measure: in Him as the fountain, in us as the vessels, from whose fullness, we receive the same. So that by oil is not meant the external Principle of all Life, the Lord Jesus having Spirit and Grace enough, but keeping our hearts empty of it: but the Lord Jesus in us, who is not in us, but by his Spirit, even the Spirit of Life, from whence all our actions spring, and from which oil our lamp burns. This therefore I say, the Profession of the faithful, springs not from outward motives, or principles of motion, as the actions of hypocrites; sometimes sudden praise, sometimes gain, sometimes fears, sometimes fleshly hopes, sometimes sudden conceit and fancy, some times irruption and rushings of the Spirit upon them; but there is a spring within, there is a life within; there is oil in the Vessel to fill the lamp, and so hence it