Ch.25. The ten Virgins. St Matthew. Tle.ten Virgins. .Ch.z tuous are they that foretel it. And whereas 6. And when they are deepetl in fecuriry, they fay it was but the Day and Hour, or Forgetfulnefs, and minding Worldly things. and not the rear, that ha knew not ? I they fuddenly hear that Chrift by Death or anfwer, That by Day and Hour, is meant in Judgment is coming ; He is ¡oil at hand : general, The Tone. And if Chrift knew it not, There's no more &lay, you mutt prefentlY no wonder if he foretold it not to his Difciples, come away to Judgment, and to be tàvedy if bat told them to this effe&, It ¡hall be cancer- - you are his. taim.royou, that you may be always ready: q, Then all thofe virgins arofe, Therefore though it be falfe that Grotius faith, and trimmed their lamps. That Paul thought, that the Coming of Chrift 7. When the Midnight cry comet:, and would be in his days: It is true, that Paul there is no longer Ray, all men, good and bad knew not but that it might be in his Days. They might know indeed, that it would not be till certain Signs foretold,came to pafs; but all ter that they were (till to expe& it as uncertain. E H A P. XXV. s. Hen (hall the Kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bride- groom. a. And five of themwere wife, and five were foolifh. r. When Chrift cometh toJudgment, either on the Yews as aforefaid, or on any withDeath ; or on all, at the Taft Day, the Adminifration of his KinglyGovernment towards theReady, and Unready may he illu /rated by this u mili- tude, of Ten Virgins, &c. Note, The Custom ofthe Jews was, to make very Pompous Feafts, at Weddings, and many Virgins ufed togo To the Bride's Houle, and thence with band Lamps to go, and attend her to the Wedding. 3. They that were foolifh took their lamps, and took no oyl with them. g, But the wife took oyl in their veils with their lamps. 3, 4. The Foolish made no preparation but for the prefent; but the Wile provided far the time to come, fappofrng there might be fume delay. Note, The Parable is, to flit up all to pre- paration for Death and Judgment; and all the Tryals that are to come : and to prove it dam- ning Foolithnefs, after all warnings to delay, and be unprepared. s. While the bridegroom tarried, they all flumbred and llept. 5 Note, The Lamp, and the Veffel of Oyl lignifie, Preparation by fuelden art, and Pre- paration by aßated baba: Wife and .Foolish, Good and Bad, may fleep upon delay; and keep not. up Rill the fame lively At}iviry: But the Godly have Rill the holy Nature and Habits. 6. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the bridegroom cpmeth, go ye out to meet him. wife and foolish, will be awakened, to attempt, frame fudden preparation : The worth almoft tender the tereecce of Death will think, what now math I do to be fared ? felf--love, and fear , will make them cry .for Mercy, with Come kind of Repentance, though they be unconverted. ' 8. And the foolifh Paid unto the wife, Give us of your oyl for our lamps are gone out. 8. The unprepared unholy Souls, when Deathand Judgment comes, would fain then be found in theState of holy Believers, and would die the death of the righteous , and with for their preparations. 9. But the wife anfwered, faying, Not fo; left there be not enough for us and you : but go ye rather to them that fell, and buy for your felves. 9. Thefe whites then are vain : One man cannot be fared by another man's riglateouf-' nefs : It muft be your own, or it will not lave you. Go therefore and make your own pre- paration. ro. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready, went in with him to the Marriage,' andthe door was flout. to. Death and Judgment ail toot Ray fr the unready : They that then are turd un. fan&ified, only under fears and whites to be Pa- ved, will be :hut out when holy prepared Souls are let in. II. Afterward came alto the other virgins, drying, Lord, Lord, Open tous. r r. Self love and fear, will make the unho- lycry inwain too late for Mercy. ra. But he anfwered and raid, Verily I fay unto you, I know you not. ra. But he will not own, or open to loch feekers, but reje& them. N. Not that true Converfion and Holinefi is ever toe' late. But thofe fears and cryes for Mercy, which in time might have been good preparations for a trae F 4 Change
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