The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

Secondly, But yet I confess there is much changeableness in the Saints, and unevenness in their course, and their Spirits are apt to grow weary and faint, otherwise they had not need to be exhorted not to be weary, and when they are lifted up, they soon sink down, Heb. 12. 1. And hence question, Was there ever grace in this heart? But yet there is much difference between the unconstancy of the one and of the other, in three things:

1. An Hypocrites affections when they cease, they are raised in him again by some external Principles and Motives; but the Faithful when they have lost what they had, they recover it again by a new nature, an inward principle; which is an evidence there was the being of Grace all this while. Empty a Pond, it will never fill again till the Clouds above it pour down rain. Empty a Spring, though it sees no Clouds in the Heavens, yet it runs of it self, and will fill it self again. So when an Hypocri•e is left dry and empty, if some clouds of displeasure, fears of death and hell come, he is filled; but a child of God when no fear of death or hell, yet many times something within begins to work, as in David Psal. 39. 3. While musing, the fire kindled, the sense of sin, to lie out from God, to quench his Spirit, the Beauty of Grace, the Command of God, the honour of the Lord Jesus recovers him, Heb. 8. 10. Deut. 5. 29. They spake as largely as any could desire, ye• their hearts were naught, because this came from no inward principle, but only from external fear. When the Priests feet touch Jordan, the waters stand on heaps; but when they are passed through, they overflow all the Banks again, according to their nature. So when the Word is preached powerfully, and the Gospel with authority, and the Priests feet touch mens Consciences, and they come to make way for the Ark, for the Lord, men in fits fall down before the Lord against their natures; & for a Sabbath day men are as full of good purposes and hearts as may be, yet peish at last,