The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

I have been oft asked this,¹ and for the sake of them that be weak, I shall give you a taste of it.

I have been oft asked this,¹ and for the sake of them that be weak, I shall give you a tast of it.

1. 1Answ.

1. Therefore look as 'tis with a man that receives any common mercy from God, from Christ, if he sees not the Lord Jesus really giving it, he enjoys it, but not Christ in it, though he get some good out of the thing: So let a man receive more knowledge of Truths, and more Truth be discovered, more Promises revealed, more affections and life dropped into the heart, which may do a man some good, yet if he sees them as separated from Christ, if he sees not the Truth as it is in Jesus, if he sees not Promises spoken from Heaven by Jesus, if ⟨p. 108⟩he looks not on all Commands as part of the secret of Jesus, if he receive affections, and by them behold not the Lord Jesus, he doth not at that time enjoy the Lord Jesus. For he now indeed enjoys his gifts, but by these he doth not enjoy him: And therefore then a man may be said to have fellowship with Christ in an Ordinance, when by all the light and life and comfort there, he comes to see him, and sees them all in him, and seeing a transcendent Glory in him, sees and beholds a hidden Glory in them. This Command is a secret of Jesus, this Promise the sweet voice of Jesus, these Consolations the comforts of Jesus, these Messengers the Ministers of Jesus, these Ordinances the Kingdom of Jesus. And therefore look throughout all the Scriptures, you shall see our Fellowship with Christ both in Heaven and here, 'tis expressed by seeing of the Lord,