The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

Hence see how far they fall short of saving Grace, that serve the Lord by fits and starts,¹ and whose hearts follow after the Lord, and make much of the Lord only in good moods. Dying pangs are not eternal graces; Withering Grace is flourishing and prosperous wickedness. If the Spirit of Grace in the Saints be of an eternal, constant nature; that is not the Spirit of Grace which accompanies salvation, which is alive to day, but dead to morrow, which a man is full of to day, but quite empty of to morrow. Hence the Prophet cries out, Hos. 6. 4, 5. Oh Ephraim what shall I do? What more means can I use for thy good? Why, do we not get good by means? Yes, but thy goodness is like the morning dew, soon licked up by the Sun, and like a cloud which passeth away, which promiseth much, but is scattered again. The Lord knows not what to do with such men; yet how many be there of such, that like Jonah Gourd, spring up for a time, and then die the next day, and they comfort themselves under the shadow thereof. That take them in their Moon, they are as good as you can wish, more than men, but out of it, they are brute beasts, not men. Whatever is in a godly man, the likeness and similitude of it is for a time in an Hypocrite. Would you have earnest prayer for a blessing? look upon Esau, he seeks for it with tears, and mourns for it for a time. Would you have following the means, and that the most powerful and searching▪ and joy in it also? See John 5. 35. What went they out into the wilderness to see? a Prophet, a burning and shining light, and rejoiced therein for a season. Would you have hazarding life for Paul and Ministry of the Gospel? Alexander did thus for a time. Would you have people enter into Covenant with God? Look upon the Israelites,