Answ. It is not every patched profession of holiness which is a Christians true glory; for by what means is the name of God more blasphemed by the wicked of the world, than by those that profess holiness, yet break out into scandalous sins! Rom. 2. 14. it is a wonder if a profane man be good a little; but it is a greater wonder and scandal if a professor be bad a little. Neither is it a most glorious appearance of holiness; this is deceit, craft, and hypocrisy, not a glory: A Stage-player that acts the part of a King, wants the glory of a King; and hence Paul opposeth himself to these, 2 Cor. 5. 12. But when there is first an exemplary holiness, arising secondly, from the fullness of the Spirit of grace within, as here in the Virgins, a shi•ing profession from an inward Spirit, when Christ hath attained the end of offering up himself, that men are a peculiar people, zealous of good works: Suppose the lamp doth burn, yet if not for the end it was made, so that a man can scarcely see his way, nor others by it, its glory is much lost: Now the end of the Spirit of holiness is this, the end of Christ's death and ministry is this; Phil. 2. 13, 14. and though they may speak evil, yet 1 Pet. 2. 12. they may glorify God in that day; when it is with men as it is with those, Z•ch. 8. •lt. We have seen God is in you; when a man maintains a sleepy careless profession and name, the lamp now wants its trim; when lamps are put under bushels, they lose their glory.
Answ. It is not every patcht profession of holiness which is a Christians true glory; for by what means is the name of God more blasphemed by the wicked of the world, than by those that profess holiness, yet break out into scandalous sins! Rom. 2. 14. it is a wonder if a prophane man be good a little; but it is a greater wonder and scandal if a professor be bad a little. Neither is it a most glorious appearance of holiness; this is deceit, craft, and hypocrisie, not a glory: A Stage-player that acts the part of a King, wants the glory of a King; and hence Paul opposeth himself to these, 2 Cor. 5. 12. But when there is first an exemplary holiness, arising secondly, from the fulness of the Spirit of grace within, as here in the Virgins, a shi•ing profession from an inward Spirit, when Christ hath attained the end of offering up himself, that men are a peculiar people, zealous of good works: Suppose the lamp doth burn, yet if not for the end it was made, so that a man can scarcely see his way, nor others by it, its glory is much lost: Now the end of the Spirit of holiness is this, the end of Christ's death and ministery is this; Phil. 2. 13, 14. and though they may speak evil, yet 1 Pet. 2. 12. they may glorifie God in that day; when it is with men as it is with those, Z•ch. 8. •lt. We have seen God is in you; when a man maintains a sleepy careless profession and name, the lamp now wants its trim; when lamps are put under bushels, they lose their glory.
