The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

1. Those that do not close with himself, but only come to him for some righteousness out of himself (for I shall not speak of them that forsake all, and follow Christ for the bag and for the loaves) for 'tis with all men living naturally, as 'tis with men that have been rich shop-keepers, but now they are broke, and cast into great want; steal they will not, dig they cannot, beg they know not how; turn Prentice to another they must not, they have not been used to that life; hence they resolve to set up their Trade again, though they sell but Pins, and Points, and small Wares; and because they cannot set up for themselves, they go unto Merchants to help them, and run into their Books on trust, and desire day and patience, and they will pay them all again: now 'tis not the man that they respect, but to make up their markets out of him; but alas they cannot pay their Debts, and hence to Prison they go: so 'tis here, God set up Adam with a stock in his own hand, now he is broken and cast into great want, and fears the arrest of Gods displeasure, now sin men dare not, dig and help themselves they cannot, and to beg and live upon the Lord and his Alms they know not how, indeed they will not, they are not used to this life; hence seek to set up their Trade again, though in never so small duties; and because they cannot help themselves, hence they go to Christ, not as to an Husband for himself, but as to a Merchant to set them up again: and truly Christ for many ends, and to show his freeness to his own, gives many Talents to such, which they receiving hope to please the Lord by; when I can get the Lord to give me some more knowledge, brokenness, affections, enlargements, abilities to do, then I hope I shall please him: but either they spend all and fall away to nothing before they dye, or else Death come; and carries them captive to the judgement-seat of God, and there they see they are run but the deeper in Debt, and not able to pay. Thus it is with Papists who profess that none of their own Works save, but his works in us, and his Blood meriting, that thes• shall save. Hence they trust not to what they do, but to what the Lord does, against which very Faith the Apostle disputes, Rom. 4. 5. Thus it was with the Jews, divers despised Christ, and sought a righteousness of their own; others cried Lord, Lord:

1. Those that do not close with himself, but only come to him for some righteousness out of himself (for I shall not speak of them that forsake all, and follow Christ for the bagg and for the loaves) for 'tis with all men living naturally, as 'tis with men that have been rich shop-keepers, but now they are broke, and cast into great want; steal they will not, digg they cannot, begg they know not how; turn Prentice to another they must not, they have not been used to that life; hence they resolve to set up their Trade again, though they sell but Pins, and Points, and small Wares; and because they cannot set up for themselves, they go unto Merchants to help them, and run into their Books on trust, and desire day and patience, and they will pay them all again: now 'tis not the man that they respect, but to make up their markets out of him; but alass they cannot pay their Debts, and hence to Prison they go: so 'tis here, God set up Adam with a stock in his own hand, now he is broken and cast into great want, and fears the arrest of Gods displeasure, now sin men dare not, digg and help themselves they cannot, and to begg and live upon the Lord and his Alms they know not how, indeed they will not, they are not used to this life; hence seek to set up their Trade again, though in never so small duties; and because they cannot help themselves, hence they go to Christ, not as to an Husband for himself, but as to a Merchant to set them up again: and truly Christ for many ends, and to shew his freenesse to his own, gives many Talents to such, which they receiving hope to please the Lord by; when I can get the Lord to give me some more knowledg, brokennesse, affections, enlargements, abilities to do, then I hope I shall please him: but either they spend all and fall away to nothing before they dye, or else Death come; and carries them captive to the judgement-seat of God, and there they see they are run but the deeper in Debt, and not able to pay. Thus it is with Papists who profess that none of their own Works save, but his works in us, and his Blood meriting, that thes shall save. Hence they trust not to what they do, but to what the Lord does, against which very Faith the Apostle disputes,