The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

1. If the Lord give them not what Grace they would, then they sleight what little he bestows; and if he gives them much, then they solace themselves in it, and grow puffed up and proud. It's the temper of Gods own people to set up such a measure of Gods Grace and Spirit which they would have, and therein they do well: Paul, Phil. 3. 11. looked to the Resurrection of the dead; but if the Lord denies them that, (as he will make his people live from hand to mouth) they sleight what they have, either as if all were but hypocrisy, or because it is but little, not so much as they would have, and herein they do ill, for here the Lord loseth the glory of some Grace, for it's Grace that you have the least desires after it; nay that you do but know what it is, and see the want of it, and yet ever complaining, and never rejoicing, for every degree of Grace in Saints, is virtually saving, though formally common. But suppose the Lord fills the bottle full, and gives as much peace, affections, enlargements of heart, as it hath almost required, (for there are Spring-tides, and over-flowing times of Gods Spirit, now they are ready to swell, and be puffed up above measure, as Paul, 2 Cor. 12. 7. Lest I should be exalted above measure, for there is self-love in Saints. Hence they desire an excellency in themselves: hence when they find none of their own, they are apt to deck and set out themselves with what the Lord hath done, and so to joy in this, and now to think themselves better than others of Gods Saints, whereas they should be more vile, and advance Grace the more, Eph. 3. 8. To me the least of Saints. And hence the Lord after greatest deliverances and mercies sends great sorrows, as to them in the Wilderness. Hence the Lord takes away affections, and they dye, that Grace might be the more advanced.

1. If the Lord give them not what Grace they would, then they sleight what little he bestows; and if he gives them much, then they solace themselves in it, and grow puft up and proud. It's the temper of Gods own people to set up such a measure of Gods Grace and Spirit which they would have, and therein they do well: Paul, Phil. 3. 11. lookt to the Resurrection of the dead; but if the Lord denies them that, (as he will make his people live from hand to mouth) they sleight what they have, either as if all were but hypocrisie, or because it is but little, not so much as they would have, and herein they do ill, for here the Lord loseth the glory of some Grace, for it's Grace that you have the least desires after it; nay that you do but know what it is, and see the want of it, and yet ever complaining, and never rejoycing, for every degree of Grace in Saints, is vertually saving, though formally common. But suppose the Lord fills the bottle full, and gives as much peace, affections, enlargements of heart, as it hath almost required, (for there are Spring-tides, and over-flowing times of Gods Spirit, now they are ready to swell, and be puft up above measure, as Paul,