The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

2. When a man leaves not till he gets such a measure of Faith and Grace, and now when he hath got this, contents himself with this as a good sign he shall be saved, he looks not for Christ. Or

3. When men are heavily loaden with sin, then close with Christ, and then are comforted, sealed, and have joy that fills them, and now the work is done, and they are past Grace, and past Repentance, and daily cleansing, now they study not what to do for Christ, that neither Family no• Church where they live, are the better for them.

3. When men are heavily loaden with sin, then close with Christ, and then are comforted, sealed, and have joy that fils them, and now the work is done, and they are past Grace, and past Repentance, and daily cleansing, now they study not what to do for Christ, that neither Family no• Church where they live, are the better for them.

4. When men shall not content themselves with any measure, but wish they had more, if Grace would grow, while they tell Clocks, and sit idle, and so God must do all, but do not purge themselves, and make work of it (Indeed Saints purge not themselves of themselves, for dirty hands will never wash a foul face) but by a daily dependence on, and importunity of Faith sigh after the Lord ⟨p. 96⟩to do it; verily if not thus, you look not for Christ, 2 Pet. 3. 11, 12, 14. For if you did, you would say and think, if to be like him be my Glory, Oh then that I might then have it now. Sons that are born to their hopes in the Court, will go in the Court-fashion: Beggars that are born and brought up under hedges, content themselves with their rags, so here: Lord where is this Spirit? especially even among us. There is scarce any but either would be honest, and then hopes God accepts of his will, or will be so, & then 'tis only so much as will credit or comfort him. Lord where is the man that mourns for this, how far short he falls of Christ, of Christs thoughts, Christs prayers, Christs speeches, Christs meekness, but only patches up his comforts with some ends of Gold and Silver, and shreds of Honesty: He hath heard others teach and preach, and gets some shreds of knowledge, thence he sees what others are, and do, and gets somewhat to be like them. Have we not cried out, men are too good to be better in our own Land? And unless a few under Affliction or Temptation, who is? I pray God such a race come not over hither, where God looks you should get a higher pitch; put off your wilderness-shoes, get those sins removed that provoked God there; or else besides the misery of a heart-brand upon thee, thou dost not look for Christ, and therefore art either not espoused, or asleep; and shalt if not by the Word, by the terror of God be dreadfully awakened. Oh New-England, New-England, that art now making a conquest of the world, and seekest for the spoil of it to enrich thy self, to recover thy losses, and therefore makest a truce with thy distempers for a time, and dost not purge thy self as Christ is pure, I dare not yet tell thee what Christ Jesus hath to say unto thee! Therefore think of this, if not thus, you have no hope, 'tis but talk and notion in thy head. And you that do not, he shall come in a time when thou lookest not for him: