66 Vft z, I - The Parable of the Ten Virginr, \ l ceived his tefl:imony; Chrifl:_hin:relfpreached in Capermmm, and nev~r . exalung a man, th~y boafl:ed 111 htm; yet onely a few Babes which the Lord \ wroug~t up_'?h ; rhe j ~larki,ms would lofe the!r eyes for P aH!, yet afterward rbey flight film, and JOin wuh falfe teachers agam!t h.im: Oh therc::fore pray for them, and weep for rh~m, but do not trufl: rhem coo far; neither rrult vour felvesroomuch; ]oh.8.3r. Then are;e m; d•fcip'esif youcominue; '])~mas 'forfakes Paul, all m Ajia forfake me. SECT. V. HEnce be not offended if we fee many apofl:atize, and fall from their m oft eminent profetlion; the Lord bath here foretold that after fome profdli- ~>n their lamps wf\J. go_· out ; :ve do not wonder 1~ ponds full in wimer a"e dry m fummer, b~caufe u 1s the nme and feafon of It, and they wane fprin~s to feed them; and never was tbere any rime fincerhe world began thattbere were fuch Apofiacies as now. Fir!t, One man after much profe!Iion intends to follow the Lord, confcience is rrocbled at humane inventions; Oh, faith he, if delivered, well enough, rhoughllofe never fo much l well, he lays out all, and is dc:livered; bur that which quiets confciepce, dorh not quiet his heart and affeC!ions ; but his very lofs for confcience makes his lulls and defires after other things break our more eagerly, and men cannot now live upon Gofpel only, with bread and water; no, no, yoa are deceived ; as it is with fick men, they let go all their efl:are for recovery ; bur when recovered, they mull get up their efl:ate again, this will . not fatisfie: And rhus fome fall fpiritually. Secondly, Others they fought for much in Ordinances, but finding not , whatthey looked for, Ordinances are but as piCtures fair a far off; bur when men come near them, Word, andFellowfhip, and people of God, then they defpife them, becaufe they find not a living God there. Thirdly, While God keeps men under fad temptations, wants and affiieli· ons ; Oh then they are humble, and pray ; but when bleH with eafe, and peace, · and plenty, and honor, then how lofty and fecure! this is betrer than the Lord : Never fuch adecay of rhe fpirit of prayer; never was there fuch a conconfufion in the world , fuch burning of Cities, flaying of men, rents of Churches, God minding tl> fiain the pride of all glory ; and yet never fuch hearts. Object. Bllt to ft~tnd fo long, and J<t to fall, fum; ftranye? .Anfw. If foonicisa wonder, but if long it is no wonder; if once pall growing, you do not wonder if an oak be now decaying. Ogj. Butthey k$ep rh.-rprofeffionftiil,onf;in onethingvile-, tbeerr•rinnlJ in their minds; a fPirit of difcention from rhe people of God. .An f. Scarce lhall you fee one man in·ahundred that is vile in every thing, that falls totally; thefoolilh Virgins did not fo, yet their oyl wasfpe!lt, and their laa1ps going out ; there was a man chat was flain fuddenly, and hts blood in his face was frelh,his beauty glorious,and many weeks continued without putrefa&ion,yet life wirhi11 was gone ; fo 'cis the con_dition of tUany a man by <?ne wound or fin : And hence a Phyfirian at Witrenlnrg writes of rhe caufe of 1t ; be not therefore offended at them, but wonder at the Lord that he keeps thee ; I know there are decaying Saints, but they recover again here:. SECT. VI.
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