The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

4. Learn to love Grace; what we love we will seek the good of more than our own, and commend it.

First, It's the only first mover of all our good: thou shouldst never have had a dram of peace or mercy. Why hast it? the Lord will have it so, Grace pleads it may be so; this is the only Petitioner at Court against the cry of sin, against the cry of Justice.

Secondly, 'Tis the only support under the heaviest evils; sometime God frowns, and Hell smokes, and Satan tempts, and sin rageth, and it may be no feeling of Grace, no reason to show there shall ever be any; now what have you done, what will you do? Fly for refuge to the Promise of Grace, Heb. 6. 18. It is such a Friend as holds up the head when sinking, when dying holds that, when all fails, and against which the gates of Hell cannot prevail. To him that lays hold on Grace, this is wonderful; Paul was a man taken with Grace: hence he every where commends it, I was received to mercy, &c. 1 Tim. 1. 13, 14.

Secondly, 'Tis the only support under the heaviest evills; sometime God frowns, and Hell smokes, and Satan tempts, and sin rageth, and it may be no feeling of Grace, no reason to shew there shall ever be any; now what have you done, what will you do? Fly for refuge to the Promise of Grace, Heb. 6. 18. It is such a Friend as holds up the head when sinking, when dying holds that, when all fails, and against which the gates of Hell cannot prevail. To him that laies hold on Grace, this is wonderful; Paul was a man taken with Grace: hence he every where commends it, I was received to mercy, &c.