The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

2. Some there are that fall not to forsake the Lord, but like the door on the hinge, and wheel on the pin, hang and turn about where they did. This Gods own people are very apt to do, and hence the Apostle wisheth them to take heed of it, from a dreadful Argument, Heb. 6. 4, 5, 6, 7.

First, Because the Lord at first conversion draws his people sweetly, drives them gently; being weak and young Infants, as yet keeps them in his arms, that they may find a greater good in him than in the world: But afterward he suffers Satan to tempt, himself deserts them, leads through a wilderness of sins and miseries, that they may know what is in their own hearts. Hence now if they will have mercy, they must fetch it, fight for it, and overcome, now hence sloth is apt to prevail for a time, as with the Disciples.

First, Because the Lord at first conversion drawes his people swee•ly, drives them gently; being weak and young Infants, as yet keeps them in his armes, that they may find a greater good in him than in the world: But afterward he suffers Satan to tempt, himself deserts them, leads through a wildernesse of sinnes and miseries, that they may know what is in their own hearts. Hence now if they will have mercy, they must fetch it, fight for it, and overcome, now hence sloath is apt to prevail for a time, as with the Disciples.

Secondly, Because before they have Christ, they feel a total want, afterward but a partial, & hence apt to be full & self-confident in what they have, their stomachs are staid by some bits, & hence the Lord is fain to withdraw the feeling of all that which they had before, that they feeling how soon that vanisheth, might hunger after more; as the Disciples could have been content with Christs being upon earth with them, then saith he, the Spirit will not come, hence away he goes, that they might have more of him in the Spirit. But this is too common with many Hypocrites.