74 V f e z. The Parable of the Ten Jlirgins, 1 the favor of rhe grace of ~h.riH may wonderfully draw delires after it, rhey may fi nd fuch a. fweemefs m It, L · k.,1_3.26. Man] {hall far, Lord, have nor we eat and drank._ m thy prtftnce ? that IS, th~:y find much fweetnefs there; rhe Lord t au~ht arr.ong them; theydelired him, and ~hought he was their own, yet Jlur our; and hence verfe 24. c..Many fhall feek._to enter in, tmd fh11Jl not be able. Fourrhly, They may and do grow up in a glo_rious profeflion in the ways of grace, a~d fuch a profeflion as to Hand It out agau?!l: perfc;cution, as the thorny ground did, and may have fome growth toward It, which cannot bewithout fome delires and fpringings of heart after ir. SECT. II. HEnce let thi~ be an item to all the people of. <;;od, to pre(erve with all care, and nor to lofe, bur to make I111.1Ch of the Spmr of Grace Inherent in them· for look as rhe Lord ]efus1 when he wo1.1ld ~ak!: his Difciples wonder at thei~ blelfednefs, and make much of him, and his Jovl:, faith he, Many Kinvs 11nd Prophets have defrtd to feetheftdays, and hotve not Jeen them; fomany pro- . felfors df great parrs and gifts !hall de/ire ro have rhar Spirit ofGrace and Peace which you have, and !hall never fee it, never !hall have ir: When Davids he art began to be drawn away by the evils of, the world, and rhen b~held the vaf iry of thar, his delires are now turned another way, Oh it u Rood for me to draw nigh to God, that's good : As if he had faid, though ir ·be good to have the things themfelves; yet itisnorgoodfor me to draw too nigh in my delires ahd e!leem of them, but good f•r me to draw mgh tB him. It may be fometimes your hearts are raken olf from e!l:eeming your condition, and what the Lord harh dene for you ; and hence no delire after the Lord or his Grace, bur the lawful comforts of the world, nor inordinately, but if I h,1d fo much, or as good as others, then well. Pfal.I4I+ <])avid entreats the Lord not to endine his heart after any evil thing, no nor after the wickeds good rhinos, Let me not eat of their dainties ; for grant that rhou Jofe!l: all rhefe things, 0 which others nave; rhe rime will come when the greate!l Prince, .and thofe that have ~heir defires filled here, !hall fay, Oh that I was in that mans ellate ! Lee the Lord therefore exercife you with many wants and forrows; remember this, your end will be peace, which the vvor!l: wo1.1ld g·v~ a world for another day. what then will become of rhem that never defired grace at all, becaufe rheyare well enough without it! a man cannot Jive ( fay they) by praying, and hearing of Sermons ; fuch duties are troublefom; hinderances, not delirable helps ; and when any Ordinance comes, when will Sabbaths be ended ? and as for rhe people of God rhemfelves they can fee no differend between them and o"th'er men, nay, they think them worfe; if this b.! your Religion,God ~eep me 'from your Religion. Nay; they can fee no beauty in Chrilt to delire him; rbey can delire rhat they w~re not kept info much on the Sabbaths-, nor fo muc_h pains t<tken with them to in!trucl: them ; it may be rhele' may delire that thetr hands be kep! from ltealing, their tongues from ccrling,and thei r feet from runing to !bed Hood ·; bur the life of Grace, and power of it, they defire nc:nhar, nor n~ver did : I remember when David was in extremity, Lord, faith he, my g roanings are not hid from thee ; this was his comfort wh~n he could not pray, 7' f a/.38·9• But here iris orherwife : CanH thou if extremity lhould come .upon thee, fay, Now I ·am not able to fpeak, Oh ramember my dofer tears, . my ~~~ -=- ~~~----~-------------------------~
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