The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

3. Do not judge only of the truth and measure of Grace by what thou hast in thy hand of feeling; but by what thou hast in thy hand of Faith in the promise. God hath ever delighted to keep his people short of what they would have, and to give them but little, insomuch that they often question the truth of Grace, feeling so little measure of it. Yet they look to the riches of Gods Grace, to the freeness and riches of the Lords promise, and hang there, and plea• that, and suck that breast. Answ. Oh now consider thou art empty, but remember the Lord Jesus is full, and the promise is free and full. Oh the riches of it, to give abundantly, and to work Truth in thee▪ Hence 'tis there in the promise, and thy Faith hangs on the promise for it: Why, tis thine by Faith then. The nature of Faith is to carry the soul empty to a promise and the Lords Grace, and Christ there, so that it knows not whither else to go but for bread here. Now Faith doing thus, it makes the promise and all of it thine, 2 Pet. 1. 1, 4. Abraham had his child first in the promise, when he felt a dry body, and saw a barren womb. And know it, its infinite mercy to be kept up in the promise, and thou givest the Lord infinite Glory by embracing of it now, and thou mayest triumph here. Hast not said, Lord, that Solomon shall reign, and sin shall not? It shall not. Oh rejoice oh Heavens and Earth at this, for the Lord hath visited me! God took from Paul his revelations, and sent distempers, that Grace might be manifested in the promise.

3. Do not judge only of the truth and measure of Grace by what thou hast in thy hand of feeling; but by what thou hast in thy hand of Faith in the promise. God hath ever delighted to keep his people short of what they would have, and to give them but little, insomuch that they often question the truth of Grace, feeling so little measure of it. Yet they look to the riches of Gods Grace, to the freenesse and riches of the Lords promise, and hang there, and plea• that, and suck that breast. Answ. Oh now consider thou art empty, but remember the Lord Jesus is full, and the promise is free and full. Oh the riches of it, to give abundantly, and to work Truth in thee▪ Hence 'tis there in the promise, and thy Faith h•ngs on the promise for it: Why, tis thine by Faith then. The nature of Faith is to carry the soul empty to a promise and the Lords Grace, and Christ there, so that it knows not whither else to go but for bread here. Now Faith doing thus, it makes the promise and all of it thine,