The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

2. When a mans principle is the power of holy example, whereby many a one is drawn to do more than otherwise he would. Many men think for a while as that man spake; Men talk of being worth thousands, I would fain see the men. Ministers preach and others speak well, we must do this & that, but I would fain see the men that do it. Now it sometime falls out that the Lord sets before mens eyes some pattern-Christians, hereupon they think thus; here are two contrary ways, they cannot both lead to heaven, their way is better than mine, and doubtless leads to life, mine doth not, and therefore let me live like the•. And hence there shall not be any Fast, but they will be at it; not a Sermon near, but they will go wet and dry to ⟨p. 183⟩hear it; nor any duty in Family, but they will imitate it, and hence read and learn, that they may be like them. No Christians in the Country hated, but they will love them, nor Ceremonies cast off, but they will abhor them; and hence they reflect upon their patterns, and think their estate safe, because they are as good as a Christians outside: And hence like some dead Cattle, there is nothing good but their skin; so there is nothing good in these, but their imitating outside. Thus it was with Joash while Jehoiada lived, 2 Chron. 24. Hence he fell like Ivy with the Oak, when God cut him down: Thus it was with these five foolish Virgins, a man may follow good examples, but not rest in bare imitation of them: And hence a blessed man is described, Psal. 1. Negatively, from no• imitating the wicked, not from imitating the good; because good men may be in many things ill examples, and it ever proves so in these men that have no more then this Principle; hence if they be loose in their tongues, or on the Sabbath, their plea is, they are like unto them. And hence come all your acquired excellencies; a man is an imitating creature, led by example, and a carnal man out of the heart of hypocrisy in himself, will imitate the divine nature which is in another; and hence men not only take up such practises, but such opinions only, because such and such are of that mind: And hence men change practises and opinions as Examples do change; in Joshua's time great Reformation, he no sooner dead, but all fell off again: then they were for purity of Ordinances and Gods Worship, now they serve Baalim: Oh consider, here is an outward, but no inward principle!