8o Numb. i4-9. The Pat able of the Ten Virginr, , ·'tis faid, Thq c•uld not enter in h~caufe of unhelief. I. They thoughub~y could never overc?l?e· 2. They thought rhe Lord dtd therefore hare them, '])eut; 1.1.7. They dtd nor regard rhe Hrength of God> thq Jh.:!ll he hut hmtd (•r us faith C aieh ; they could not believe rhat tp be bread that is fo hazzardful. So . 'ris with many a man; and hence he Gts dcwn with deGres and hopes, and fo peritbeth ; the Jluggards deJires fl"J him ; hence many complain of diificulty · but never break dtfficulties, and fo perilb; and fo not like to the Merchan~ that goes far for pearl. Iris his buGnefs, and no Aorms nor ill weather drive him todeGrethefmoakof hischimney, tillhe bath got them, he hathnow refo!ved to venture all for, 'l'ro~.2·5· if thou dig fo: Ji!ve~,&c. many prize Chnll and Grace, Oh rbat I had it, but are loth to dtg for lt, they love their eafe fo well, and hence reil in their deGre ;tfrer ir; but indeed mifs it ; and hence many can c:ome to, and follow God in outward OrdinanL-es, but never find fruit and comforr in any of them, becaufe of difficulty, yet Gt down content b~caufe they feek for Ordinances, as Prov. I 2.27. The Jluggard roafls not wh11t he had tGol! in hunting; there is a very great delight in coming to Ordinances, as travellers under rhe lbadow, but then to climb the tree that is hard and hence lofe the fruit ; and hence Cod feeing a man love his f!oth, and bath that bafe efleem of his Grace, as that he will not follow fo hard after it as he bath done afrer his lulls, let's loofe Satan, and he comes and flakes down a fin~ ner in this, God 111uH do all, and there he refls, and fo he falls lbort; like one that comes to Husbandmen, and tells them they have taken much pains and care to get their ground good to bring forth much, but for time to come their ground !ball bring forth fruit withput planting or fowin_g, only reap you the fruit, it would be good news to them, and tl:iey beleive It, and then when the year comes abour, rhey are ro feek for corn; fo this affeets,and here they re!t, and by this means want. Fourthly, From feeling the unprofitablenefs of feeking the Lord through difficulties, and hence they give over but a little before they finde rhar that will continue. I. Some follow the Lord for carnal ends, as J uda< did, but he finding the purfe grow lank, and the bag empty, he forfakes the Iord. 2. Some for comfort, and hence pray and mourn; and hence Mai.3.I4. what profit is there that we have walked fo? as it was with Naomi, when !be returned home,both her daughters accompany her fome part ofherjway,Return ;~ gain,faith lbe,to your frienas,here uno HHshand for pu where I go; rhe one would not be beaten off, it is not aHusband I came for, but a God ; ;hy God fha /the my G•d; the other he~ring her fpeeches, and loving her Fathers houfe, and Country, goes back, nor wirhout fame affeetion ; fo it is here; whereas Faith will cry the more. . Fifthly, From the offences which u!Ually Satan cafls in when they are in the heat of their firfl endeavours ; as the Hony ground being offended fell away. As, I. Perfecution, and hence they fall ; a childe begins to look towards God ; the Father, Mother, Friends fcoff and reproach. 2. Corrupt Teachers, 11111tth.24. that like falfe Chrifls deceive, and put a world of fcruples into mens heads, and then lead them away; as rhe GJ!lati- ""s that would pull out their eyes for P~tul, yet by love and fmoor_!l carriage of faf[e Teachers fo plaufible, rhey fell off (lrangel:Y. ~' 3· Corrupt company , women or men; many flrong men have fallen by the one, .and men alfo who having a form of godlinefs, 7et denying the power of it, their beans be taken in thefe fnares. . ' ' 4· Some hard point ofdothine, Joh.6.6o,66. · fomerhing is pteachr rhatis . crofs to our apprehenfions; .Ile nevefbelieve ir, fay they ; and away they fall. Sixthly,
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