The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

SECT. IV.

Hence see one reason why men lose their honour, their love and respect in the¹ eyes of God and men; their judgements are not reverenced, their persons not accepted, their names and practises despised; this is one reason among the rest, a decay in holiness; the lamp is defiled, the light and lustre of it going out, and who will reverence it then? 'tis admirable to see the complaints abroad.

HEnce see one reason why men lose their honor, their love and respect in the¹ eyes of God and men; their judgements are not revere••ed, their persons not accepted, their names and practises despised; this is one reason among the rest, a decay in holiness; the lamp is defiled, the light and lustre of it going out, and who will reverence it then? 'tis admirable to see the complaints abroad.

1. 1Use 1.

First, Look but into Families, what is the reason there is so much discontent there, that Servants are weary of their Masters, Masters of their Servants; and there is such complaints one of another, little respect one of another? it is for want of holiness, power, and life of godliness; the Master saith, the Servant is unruly, froward, surly, slothful, unfaithful, untrusty, and must not be spoken to; the Servant saith, his Master is passionate, unkind, wants pity to his body, and sometimes strikes him without cause, and much more careless of his soul, never instructs him, but is eaten up with the world, &c. truly this is the cause. It seems the Lord wrought upon divers in Primitive times, and