The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

This serves to discover the great error, most common and dangerous of the whole christian wo•ld, who think that they may love and embrace the world and the Lord Jesus too, and •e saved at last by him too, i. e. they may not be Virgins,¹ but go a whoring from Christ, and yet partake of Christ, and mercy from him: that look as it was in those sad days, Isai. 4. 1. so in these days many lay hold on Jesus Christ, they will eat their own b•end, live on their own […], and wear their own apparel, their own rags, only let us be called by thy name Believers ] to take away our reproach, for that is an open shame not to believe in Christ: For this is the professed thought of some; every one is a sin; and I am one, and a great one too, and who can say his heart is clean, none can free himself from sin in this life, and I cannot do it if I would: and hence look on Christ to save them, though sin slee•• in them: you cannot have both; I would but enquire, hath not every man something that contents him? what is it? is it the love, the fellowship of Jesus? yet, it may be at a Sacrament, and it may be not, for thou mayest say, the Lord never yet revealed his love and self unto me, never yet assured me, yet somewhat joys thy heart. What think you, can you have the Lord, and content your selves thus with other things? why? I trust to him I hope so; it cannot be so. If the Lord Jesus was a Patron of Brothel-houses, a Protector of Stews, you might think so; some say they cannot pray to him, nor prize him; why? something else contents then besides him; but know it cannot be so: I know a Saint may be taken aside, as David with envy at others prosperity; but when he considers of it, O what a Beast! he returns again. The Raven and the Dove we sent forth, the one came again and again, the other not; therefore as