The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

1. There is a knowledge of the Lord Jesus by report, the fame of a man may come where himself is not seen, so of Christ, there may be a fame spread of him and of some excellencies in him, where he is not savingly known, and this is not seeing of Christ, for a man may live and die a damned creature with this knowledge. The Samaritans had some knowledge by report of the Messiah, John 4. 25. When he is come he will tell us all things; so many among us hear that Christ is come and risen, and glorified, and the Saviour of the world and of sinners, &c. But how come they to know this? By way of tradition and report only. I confess this knowledge may be a means in the Elect to bring them to saving knowledge, as in the Queen of Sheba that heard Solomons fame, and the Disciples John 1. Come and see. But Reprobates are not drawn by it, as Herod, Luke 23. 8. heard many things of Christ, but never saw him till he came to judge him. So here, because they can live well without Christ, hence rest content with the bare report. Whereas they that had diseases, heard of his fame, and came to see Jesus.

1. There is a knowledge of the Lord Jesus by report, the fame of a man may come where himself is not seen, so of Christ, there may be a fame spread of him and of some excellencies in him, where he is not savingly known, and this is not seeing of Christ, for a man may live and die a damned creature with this knowledge. The Samaritans had some knowledge by report of the Messiah, Iohn 4. 25. When he is come he will tell us all things; so many among us hear that Christ is come and risen, and glorisied, and the Saviour of the world and of sinners, &c. But how come they to know this? By way of tradition and report only. I confesse this knowledge may be a means in the Elect to bring them to saving knowledge, as in the Q•een of Sheba that heard Solomons fame, and the Disciples Iohn 1. Come and see. But Reprobates are not drawn by it, as Herod, Luke 23. 8