The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

Shows that God is. And

Shews that God is. And

2. What man is, and so discovers and describes all hypocrisy of men, and all grace of men, now if it will not bear the trial of the Word, convince them they have gone on in a covenant of works indeed: But if it will, hold there, take heed then of false witness against the Truth of God; so that do not condemn the work of Christ in any man, where 'tis of the right stamp, and hath Christs Image upon it, and so pluck men from their claim to Christs love revealed in his promise. But learn to difference it once, and then I am persuaded the sad differences that begin to appear, would soon be ended among all them that love the Truth in Christ Jesus, 2 Pet. 1. 4. Whereby are given to us that have precious Faith, exceeding great and precious promises, The Lord gives little to his people, Oh but he gives them rich promises! Bonds, and Bills, and writings to show for rich Grace, and riches of Glory, and riches of peace. Oh but these promises Hypocrites may have! they may be lost, and hunger and thirst, and believe. What as those do that have their interest in these promises? Why are they called precious Promises? Precious promises are not common things. Precious promises are not the portion of a base world. Precious things God never gives to dogs, and believe me, you may come to know the price of them in the times of your horror on death-bed, that account them common now. Oh but many rest on promises without Christ! That's all one, the faithful by them come to partake of the Divine Nature, of Christ, of his Spirit, of Divine Consolations, Peace, Grace, and this is not building on a work, or resting on a bare promise, when it carries you to Christ and the everlasting embracings of him. Its no matter what promise gives peace, so long as it lands us in Christ. And therefore a man may know his blessed estate by a work, only let me put in three Cautions.

2. What man is, and so discovers and describes all hypocrise of men, and all grace of men, now if it will not bear the trial of the Word, convince them they have gone on in a covenant of works indeed: But if it will, hold there, take heed then of false witnesse against the Truth of God; so that do not condemn the work of Christ in any man, where 'tis of the right stamp, and hath Christs Image upon it, and so pluck men from their claim to Christs love revealed in his promise. But learn to difference it once, and then I am perswaded the sad differences that begin to appear, would soon be ended among all them that love the Truth in Christ Iesus,