The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

Fourthly, 'Tis a false Knowledge, for give a blind man a description of the Sun, or a tasteless man of honey, he may set up a false Image and deceive himself, and so doth this. Many set up a false Image of Christ, and trust to that. Or as in the description of another Country, when he sees it, then he sees he was deceived: so Saints see they were deceived, and saw not Christ, nor Sin, nor God; and so shall men in He•• see; hence Isai. 6. 9. In seeing they see not: how came that to ass? they did see, but saw not really.

Fourthly, 'Tis a f•lse Knowledg, for give a blind man a description of the Sun, or a ta••eless man of honey, he may set up a false Image and deceive himself, and so doth this. Many set up a false Image of Christ, and trust to that. Or as in the description of another Country, when he sees it, then he sees he was deceived: so Saints see they were deceived, and saw not Christ, nor Sin, nor God; and so shall men in He•• see; hence Isai. 6. 9. In seeing they see not: how came that to ass? they did see, but saw not really.

Fifthly, 'Tis such a Knowledge as hinders from saving-knowledge of Christ, John 9. 39. I came that they that see might be made blind. The wise learned Corinthians must become foolishness, and the light that is in thee is darkness. This light stands in your light: and yet this is the Knowledge that thousand thousands content themselves withal, and hence catch hold on Christ, and think they have him, when in truth 'tis but the Image and fancy of him.

Fif•hly, 'Tis such a Know•edg as hinders from saving-knowledg of Christ,