The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

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 ⟨p. 56⟩the Apostle gives Servants an item, that they may glorify God, and adorn the Gospel of the Lord Jesus; ¹how came Joseph into potiphar's books? oh, he was very holy, and very prudent; and Isle warrant did his Masters work better when his Master was absent than before, and prayed for success in his business, as Abraham's Servant. Look but upon Husband and Wife, it is strange to see what divisions and jars there; and what's the cause of it, Wife doth not honour Husband, nor Husband honour Wife? how comes this? oh, there is little holiness seen in their private walking one with another; the woman thought the man godly; had I known this, I would have seen you a hundred miles off, &c. the man also he complains of his wife, I see now I am like to be troubled with a continual dropping, a very fury of hell, so impatient, (and the next neighbour hears of it) nothing can please her; what's the reason of this? your sin makes your shame, and there's the want of holiness, 1 Pet. 3. 3. man might be conve•ted by the Wife, and the Wife by the Husband; not that it is always so, but usually so.

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, flothful, unfaithful, untrusty, and must not be spoken to; the Servant saith, his Master is passionate, unkinde, 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