The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

That unto some men especially, nay unto all men almost, though vile, yet more or less the Lord gives a power to act,¹ and live, and move, and to do many spiritual duties, or good duties from themselves For as there is a breadth in the ways of Grace, that every Christian hath not the like measure of Grace, so there is a breadth or latitude in the ways of sin: every sinner breaks not forth into the like measure of sin, but some are far better than others; as the three grounds that were bad, yet one better than another. Now how comes this about? why, the Lord gives that power to act (as all the knowledge of a God) by the light of Nature (falsely so called) this is the work of God, Rom. 1. 19. Hence all terrors, and comforts, and duties of Conscience are all from God: so the Historical Faith of the Gospel which many have, and so to confess and profess no salvation but by Christ, together with a readiness to dye in defence of this truth and Religion, and joy from this, and reformation of life upon this, none of these are natural to this soil of a mans soul, but all are planted there by God, 1 Cor. 12. 2, 3. and so that man can act according to the Law, be strict in Sabbaths, frequent in Fastings and Prayers, &c. 'tis from God, Rom. 10. 2. And why doth the Lord work this? 'tis else no living in the world among men, and because Christ is the politicum caput, and hath bought all men in the world to be his servants, hence gives them gifts which he turns for the good of his people: but yet this is the nature of all these abilities, that a man acts from the strength and power of them, not from Christ, Mi. 4. 5. Other Nations will walk in the name, &c. and the reason is,