The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

SECT. VI.

Of Exhortation, ¹TO watch over one another, by exhorting one another while it is called to day, Heb. 3. 13. Let both the Watchmen and Members of Churches do this; for this is one means appointed by the Lord to preserve the soul from sleeping, 1 Thes. 5. 1, 5, 6. Exhorting one another; as it is in Cities, when the Watch is apt to sleep, they have their companies that are passing up and down the walls the greatest part of the night, and so they are kept waking; and we shall find, that as it is in a Town where men are all asleep, one Bell-man, one waking Christian will keep life, and spirit, and the power of godliness in many; and when he sleeps, all are fast. Nothing in the world brings security sooner upon men than sleepy company: Officers of Churches watch not over members, nor they one over another, exhorting ⟨p. 9⟩and crying one unto another to their work, while it is called to day: Oh then let every man get up, and fall to this work of mutual exhorting! go and visit one another, go and speak oft to one another; and if thou be a child of the light, see that thou endure not thy fellow servants to sleep in the open day in one duty or another. Know, if God stirs thee, thou wilt awaken others, 2 Cor. 5. 10. We knowing the terrors of the Lord persuade men.

Of Exhortation, ¹TO watch over one another, by exhorting one another while it is called to day, Heb. 3. 13. Let both the Watchmen and Members of Churches do this; for this is one means appointed by the Lord to preserve the soul from sleeping,