The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

3. He loves thee although thou wrongest him, Isa. 43. 22. to 26. when he is so wronged that he is ready to give thee up, yet Hos. 11. 8, 9. He is God and not man, nay, which is more wonderful, where sin there Grace abounds. Hence David makes this an Argument, Psal. 25. 11. Forgive because 'tis great. And hence Moses, Deut. 33. 9. Because 'tis a stiff-necked people. Oh therefore love him, though he smites thee, though he forsakes thee, wherein he may seem, but indeed doth no wrong to thee, but love thee; for chastisement is part of the portion of sons, not of Bastards, Heb. 12. 6, 8. But do as that woman when she came to the stake, gave away her clothes, some to one, some to another, Now farewell friends, and world, welcome Love, welcome Christ. So if the Lord comes to take away all from thee, the child of thy body, the husband of thy youth, the wife of thy bosom, the comforts of thy life, provisions from thy family, bread from thy mouth, bid farewell to them, give them into the Lords hands, and now say, welcome Christ. Its usual for Christians at first conversion and espousing, the Lord loves them dearly, and tenders them, shows nothing but love to them, and then their love is fresh; afterward come hard Frosts, and Winter-storms, and cold blasts of displeasure: Christ departs from the Soul, withdraws himself, hides his face, and sends sad afflictions; now the Soul apprehending anger, and nothing else, it grows discouraged, and so dies: when if it could stay and wait, it should see all from love, and doing it the greatest good. Oh remember this: he doth afflict me, he doth depart from me, he doth fear me with Hell, yet I'll love him never a whit the less: Though the Lord buries all the Blessings he gives me, yet my love shall live, and if it do fall it shall arise.

3. He loves thee although thou wrongest him, Isa. 43. 22. to 26. when he is so wronged that he is ready to give thee up, yet