The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

3. Are not our senses bound up? look upon men in their fields and conversings, buyings and sellings; where is a daily, weekly watchfulness over our thoughts and tongues? Look to mens closets, do men there call themselves to account? can they find leisure or need of it? are not mens eyes closed up, that the glory of God in the Scripture is a sealed thing? Men have eyes but see not; are not mens ears sealed up? Some Sermons men can sleep them out; mans voice is heard, but not the voice of the Son of God: Oh how many men are there that become quite Sermon-proof now adays! Are not men blockish, dull, senseless, heavy under all means! they taste not, smell not, whereas elsewhere, O how lively and spiritual are they!

3. Are not our sences bound up? look upon men in their fields and conversings, buyings and sellings; where is a daily, weekly watchfulness over our thoughts and tongues? Look to mens closets, do men there call themselves to account? can they finde leisure or need of it? are not mens eyes closed up, that the glory of God in the Scripture is a sealed thing? Men have eyes but see not; are not mens ears sealed up? Some Sermons men can sleep them out; mans voyce is heard, but not the voyce of the Son of God: Oh how many men are there that become quite Sermon-proof now adays! Are not men blockish, dull, senceless, heavy under all means! they taste not, smell not, whereas elsewhere, O how lively and spiritual are they!

4. Is not the spirit of Prayer, that lamp going out in the Church of God? the blessedness of all flourishing Plantations in the world began by means of that, and shall not continue but as it continues; and if ever cause to seek for prosperity of Plantations, these have need. If God should take away this generation of Magistracy and Ministry, what would this despised Country do? and what would become of your children? then no Schools for them, when no Gospel left among them; then every mans sword shall be against his brother, and God spreading the place with darkness, which through his presence is made light; what little hope of a happy generation after us, when many among us scarce know how to reach their children manners? How apt are we, like to those Asian Churches, to fall into those very sins which overwhelmed them, and ruined them? how many fall off, and in time break forth, that it would make men sick to hear of their pranks? what place more open to temptations of persecution and worldly delusion? go up and down the Plantations, where is the man that lays things to heart? who hath the condition of the Country written upon his heart, and presenting it before the Lord, rather than his own good? Oh men are silent because asleep! How do sins run thorough men as water thorough a mill, and men regard it not? what means, what deliverances have we had! but oh what little thankfulness? 2. Do we make progress; nay, is not out shadow gone back? I sleep, but my heart waketh; it should be so, but it is not so indeed.