The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

1. A created love. One man loves another exceedingly, as Jonathan did David. Now he hath the perfection of all humane or Angelical love towards his people put in him.

1. A created love. One man loves another exceedingly, as Ionathan did David. Now he hath the perfection of all humane or Angelical love towards his people put in him.

2. Increated love, infinite love of a God, and hence 'tis immeasurable. He thinks nothing he doth too much, nothing he gives too dear: hence when world is slain, Satan cast out, when he is out sin must out; when some sins removed, the rest must; when they are out, then death must; when Death, then Hell. And when there is no life, no Grace, he works it; it decays, he restores it; it cannot act, he quickens it; it cannot, doth not grow, he waters it. He hath given thee the earth, and the days of peace and patience; those are too little: he calls thee, and when thou canst not come, draws thee, and gives thee pardon: that is too little: he gives earth to thee, that is too little: (world is theirs) he gives Heaven to thee, that's too little (for they are made Co-heirs:) he gives promise to thee, that is too little: he gives himself, and Spirit, and can he do more? Yes, we cannot drink in all that goodness and love; hence he gives eternity to thee, and he shall more and more enlighten thee: not only let thy Soul live to bless him, but thy poor body, and every dust of it to be raised up to Glory with him. What the Lord promised to Abraham, In blessing I will bless, that portion is thine. Oh now love him without measure. Oh how I love thy law! how did David love it? I cannot tell; but if he loved the word of Christ, then much more the person of Christ, the presence of Christ, everlasting fellowship with Christ. Oh take heed of giving Christ, and measuring out unto Christ his portion, his allowance, that when the Lord comes to you for more love (as he doth daily) you give him that answer which many do in their practice, you have let him have as much as you can: so that you cannot spare any more from your selves, from a base world, from Wife, and Child, and Creature, from a slothful course: you hope the Lord will accept of that little he hath. I confess a little water in a Spring is better than much that comes by Land-floods, but be sure it be a Spring, else not accepted. Beloved, time was you lived without Christ, did nothing for him: now you do; and what thou dost this year, didst last year, and no more: what love Christ had yesterday, the same he hath to day and no more: Will you thus stint the Lord? Either do more, give more, or mourn you cannot: Oh one life, one heart is too little for him.