The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

And that the Trial may be full and fair, I shall show Negatively, the several sorts of men that act not from an inward Principle, yet carry it out as though the bitterness of death was past, and the Bridegroom theirs.

And that the Trial may be full and fair, I shall shew Negatively, the several sorts of men that act not from an inward Principle, yet carry it out as though the bitterness of death was past, and the Bridegroom theirs.

1. When a mans Principle is nothing but the power of created nature expressing it self, and setting the best face forward, in the gilded rottenness of some moral performances, wherein a man saith, he doth what he can; for there is this principle in most men, a desire to be saved, nature saith so, and according to the intention of this desire, so accordingly will men do more or less; and hereupon sooth up themselves, when they see they cannot do as others do, or as the Lord commands; I do as well as I can. Nay, when condemned by the Word which meets them, I do as well as I can, I believe, I repent, I pray, I remember the Word, I do as well as I can, and so they hope God accepts of that; and though I believe no man but may be hired to do more than he doth, yet nature may do much; hence I heard an Arminian once say, If faith will not will not work it, then set reason a work, and we know how men have been Kings and Lords over their own passions by improving reason, and from some experience of the power of nature, men have come to write large Volumes in defence of it; and its known the Arminians though they ascribe somewhat to grace, and in words all to grace, yet indeed they lay the main stress of the work upon a mans own will, and the royalty and sovereignty of the liberty of that: But to leave them and come to our selves, Is it not a common thing for men to •ake lies their refuge, and to say, I was in a woeful condition once, and never looked after God, but now I bless the Lord 'tis otherwise with me. How? Now I believe, repent, &c. And so I confess all I do is full of weaknesses, yet I do what I can; and thus they are like to men that have old garments new dressed, they have made them as good as they can; and like the young man,