The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

Or 3. If it do, it never hath any peace in what it doth, the duties never so well done. Whereas otherwise the poorest duty done from Christ, witness Heb. 11. 4, 5. as a child bego• of the Father, he will own, but other children not. If any poor tired heart that hea•s me this day, thou hast been making thy Brick, and promises and vows will not help, now away to the Lord, if ever help now 'tis when most helpless.

Or 3. If it do, it never hath any peace in what it doth, the duties never so well done. Whereas otherwise the poorest duty done from Christ, witnesse Heb. 11. 4, 5. as a child bego• of the Father, he will own, but other children not. If any poor tired heart that hea•s me this day, thou hast been making thy Brick, and promises and vowes will not help, now away to the Lord, if ever help now 'tis when most helplesse.

2. If you can do any thing savingly good, the soul is bound now (by the power of Faith) to stir up it self to act, though not to trust to it alone, for sometimes the soul hath the regenerate part uppermost, and the prevailing Spirit of God, Psal. 21. 3. which comes to him, and gives it power to act before the soul come to it. Now a man is bound to act, because 'tis from Christ now. Hence Timothy was to stir up the gift, 2 Tim. 1. 6. Hence complained of them Isa. 64. 8. None stir up himself to take hold on the Lord. A man must stir up himself to believe, as well as other Graces, hence the Kingdom of Heaven is taken with violence, and though corruption is stronger than Grace, yet Grace assisted with the Spirit, is stronger than it, which is never quite out of the soul, but 'tis in the soul,