The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

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.

Secondly, Because before they have Christ, they feel a total want, afterward but a partial, & hence apt to be ful & 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.

1. When men serve their turn of Christ. There is never a Hypocrite living but closeth with Christ for his own ends, for he cannot work beyond his Principle. Now when men have served their own turns out of another man, away they go, and keep that which they have. An Hypocrite closeth with Christ as a man with a rich shop; he will not be at cost to buy all the shop, but so much as serves his turn. Commonly men in horror seek for so much of Christ as will ease them, and hence profess and hence seek for so much of Christ as will credit them, and hence their desires after Christ are soon satisfied. Appetitus finis est infinitus.

1. When men serve their turn of Christ. There is never a Hypocrite living but closeth with Christ for his own ends, for he cannot work beyond his Principle. Now when men have served their own turns out of another man, away they go, and keep that which they have. An Hypocrite closeth with Christ as a man with a rich shop; he will not be at cost to buy all the shop, but so much as serves his turn. Commonly men in horrour seek for so much of Christ as will ease them, and hence professe and hence seek for so much of Christ as will credit them, and hence their desires after Christ are soon satisfied. Appetitus finis est infinitus.