The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

OF Direction and thankfulness to the people of God;¹ Oh! do not always fall to fits of doubts after security, though deep and long (as many Christians do) and so are ever laying and pulling up foundations; after most peace of conscience, most security, and then the Sea rageth again, and it is hard for any man to keep his peace; have you had such mercy, and love, and will you thus be careless and loose again? believe it, the Lord will break your bones if you love your beds, and not give you rest till you find it on another pillow; but yet do not deny his love, though you have forgot it; do not say you are not Virgins, because fallen asleep; and that the Bridegroom will never come to meet you, because you have lingered in meeting him; for behold he cometh: I know there is a difference between the security of the wise and foolish; of which hereafter: The Disciples fall asleep in the garden after a treble warning, yet it was against much reluctancy; hence Christ pitied them; the Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak; and when they were awakened, their vessels were not found empty; Peters vessel was full of love to Christ before, and when the Lord awakens him, he tells the Lord he loved him; and his fall and security in it for a time made him more humble, and love the Lord with less self-confidence, and more purity: But oh, wonder at it, rejoice in it, and be thankful for it! especially you that have fallen into any secure frame ⟨p. 44⟩since ye came into these Virgin-Churches; which you cannot but do, if you consider the greatness of this sin; to sin and be long secure, and fast asleep, is strange.