The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

That which make• the one to fall, makes the other to fear, and so to stand. A Conceit carries a man on, but when his Conceit is gone, he falls. Look as 'tis with dead men, they may have heat and colour, but 'tis from the fire; a living man may be cold, and his beauty gone, yet he comes to be hot again, not from external heat, but internal life within: He can get himself heat, as we say, so 'tis here. Or as 'tis with the Clock and the Sun, the one moves by Art, the other by nature.

2. Suppose there be some inward Spirit to raise their Affections, yet these graces arise in them without the destruction of the contrary Corruption. And so are like to Moses burning Bush, the Bush burning, but yet not burnt. And thus it was with Balaam, suddenly the Spirit of God came upon him, and he saw the beauty of Jacobs Tents and blessed them above all people in the world, yet his covetous, malicious heart against them was not consumed: We never read of Balaam's mourning for want of the sight of their glory, and of love to their persons and posterity; but the graces of the Saints do arise from the dying of the contrary lust or corruption which they see and are sensible of; and hence the act of grace ceaseth sometimes, because 'tis opposed by corruption, yet the being of it remains in full power, though not in the exercise thereof, because 'tis in such a Subject where corruption is dying, not living; falling, not reigning. Christ, dies, and so lives in his people; where Christ is indeed, there we are first buried with Christ before we are raised by him. Paul could do great things for Christ, yet sometime is weak, because his strength arose from the sense of his own insufficiency to think • good thought. The Saints see great things but 'tis in such a way, as that they that see not, might see, Joh. 9. 39. Paul is sometime set at liberty from pricking temptations, yet he hath them sometimes that he may feel them, and so be raised again. Hence many people suddenly find they love the people of God, and love the Lord, but never felt the contrary sin; suspect 'tis but a pang, as Capernaum was much affected, yet repented not.