The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

3. Those whose principle is nothing but external applause and praise of men, and this will carry a man beyond all the best Examples: Nay, sometime to be singular, and a man alone; a Pharisees Trumpet shall be heard to the Town's end, while simplicity walks through the Town unseen: Hence a man will sometimes covertly commend himself, and my self ever comes in, and tells you a long Story of Conversion, and an hundred to one, if some lie or other flip not out with it. Why, the secret meaning is, I pray admire me, hence complain of wants and weaknesses; pray think what a broken-hearted Christian I am; and hence if comforted they complain, if not, they will comfort themselves; hence many lift up eyes and hands, and fetch deep sighs in prayer, remember and note Sermons, look now what a gift I have: Hence if you come to their company, they will have so many good words as may make you think well of them, and then the Market is almost done with them: Hence men forsake their friends, and trample underfoot the scorns of the world, they have credit elsewhere: To maintain their interest in the love of godly men they will suffer much: Hence men in the Ministry pray for grace to beautify and perfect their parts, that so they may preach and convert and have credit: Hence men meditate new Light, and profess deep things that few know, that men may worship the rising Sun: Hence the Lord is neglected secretly, yet honoured openly, because there is no wind in their chambers to blow their Sails, and therefore there they stand still: Hence many men keep their profession, when they lose their affection, they have by the one a name to live, and that is enough, though their hearts be dead: And hence so long as you love or commend them, so long they love you, but if not, they will forsake you; they were warm only by another's fire; and hence having no principle of life within, soon grow dead: This is the water that turns a Pharisees Mill, and the Lord passeth a heavy doom, You have your reward. I have wondered that the opinion of men, nay, dream of mens thoughts should act men; only 'tis a curse of God, that when men despise his honour the greatest good, they shall be fed with the basest good.

3. Those whose principle is nothing but external applause and praise of men, and this will carry a man beyond all the best Examples: Nay, sometime to be singular, and a man alone; a Pharisees Trumpet shall be heard to the Townesend, while simplicity walks thorow the Town unseen: Hence a man will sometimes covertly commend himself, and my self ever comes in, and tells you a long Storie of Conversion, and an hundred to one, if some lie or other flip not out with it. Why, the secret meaning is, I pray admire me, hence complain of wants and weaknesses; pray think what a broken-hearted Christian I am; and hence if comforted they complain, if not, they will comfort themselves; hence many lift up eyes and hands, and fetch deep sighs in prayer, remember and note Sermons, look now what a gift I have: Hence if you come to their companie, they will have so many good words as may make you think well of them, and then the Market is almost done with them: Hence men forsake their friends, and trample underfoot the scorns of the world, they have credit elsewhere: To maintain their interest in the love of godly men they will suffer much: Hence men in the Ministry pray for grace to beautifie and perfect their parts, that so they may preach and convert and have credit: Hence men meditate new Light, and profess deep things that few know, that men may worship the rising Sun: Hence the Lord is neglected secretly, yet honoured openly, because there is no winde in their chambers to blow their Sails, and therefore there they stand still: Hence many men keep their profession, when they lose their affection, they have by the one a nme to live, and that is enough, though their hearts be dead: And hence so long as you love or commend them, so long they love you, but if not, they will forsake you; they were warm onely by anothers fire; and hence having no principle of life within, soon grow dead: This is the water that turns a Pharisees Mill, and the Lord passeth a heavy doom, You have your reward. I have wondred that the opinion of men, nay, dream of mens thoughts should act men; onely 'tis a curse of God, that when men despise his honour the greatest good, they shall be fed with the basest good.