The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

1. That he loves me, and this very apprehension fetcheth in warmth and life into the heart, In thy favour is life.

2. What that love is, and that in all the dimensions of it: and beloved this is that which fills a man, Eph. 3. 18, 19. that as 'tis with Women when the fullness of the Husbands love is seen, it knits the heart invincibly to him, and makes her do any thing for him, so here. And as we say of Trees, if the Tree begins to wither and dye, the only way is not to cast water on the branches, or to pray for water and dews from Heaven on them, but water the root. Love is the next root of all Grace, love Christ, and you will never be weary of doing for Christ, love him, and he will love you, Prov. 8. 17. Now what kindles love so much as this comprehending knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and his love, this will make a man a burning Beacon of love, make a man melt into love, which is as strong as death, much water cannot quench it, 2 Cor. 5. 14. Love of Christ constrains, Gal. 5. 6. Faith works by love: Faith is our feet whereby we come to Christ, Love is our hand whereby we work for Christ: now let any Chirurgeons servant come to a Chirurgeon with a broken arm, and tell him he can do no work for him, therefore desire him to give him strength to do it, come saith he, let me heal your arm first: no by no means; let me first do your work, that so you may heal, and I may feel my arm to be whole: It can never be: So 'tis many a Christians course, Lord let me do thy work, and hence he cries, Lord give me strength, and then falls to do it, and cannot without pain, because his love is broken. Many say, I will go to Christ, and act for Christ, and then I will think the Lord loves me, but never find it: first see and comprehend the love of the Lord: And truly this is the reason why no heart, no ⟨p. 35⟩