t------------------------------~----------------~==- 1· 86 The Parable of the Ten Virgins, Joh. 16. ., , Flirh.is righr,. and his Sanctification is glorious ; for Cbrilt :ann~r b! exceeding f)veer and raosfa~ory. ro. the foul, unlefs fin ~e fir it exceedmg bmer; and rhis is the reafonwhy Chn(l IS not fweet norprecwusatfirllnor afterward, becaufe fin is not fo bi:rer ro th~n;, efpecially heart ~ns ~ Cbrilli~ns lhall find it, the eiteem and Frtce of Chnll falls, wh1!es fin hes h~bt and 1s not bitter. · _____________________ __, SECT. VII. ~e!l:.HO"' bittefmuftitbe? , .Anfw. So bitter as that nothing contents your heart, whiles fin is with you, and the Lord is gone from you, Lam. 3·49· Mine e;e ceafeth not mo;mun'f, till the Lord look._ down from heaven; as aman thatlooksfor a Prince ro come ar.d live with him, he prepares rooms for all his attendants, but be referves the be(\ lodgings for the.Prince bimfelf, and theY. are k~pt empty whiles he comes : So rhe foul enrertams Creatures, and Ordinances, and Saints of God,b~r yet rbe heart is not content, bur tits empty, defolate whiles the Lord is gone ;for whiles rhe heart is delighted with fomewhat elfe befide the Lord(that if rhe Lord comes, it is well, if nor, it is merry and jolly) fee what the Lord there fpeaks, J cm. 4· 8,9,10. Cle.1n[~ your hearts t~nd he Will draw nigh unto you; turn laughter ro mourning, elfe you are not bumbled. Lee Gods own people dofo, it Hops up the fountain of Gods love, and fweernefs of mercy, Pfal. 30.7. When carmtlly confident, I was troubled; as it is in marriage, if a man knows there is familiarity between the woman and another Lover he will have none ofher; but when fin is thus bitter, the Lord bath the garments of joy to give fo r the fpirit of heavinefs, Ifa.6I .J,2. Oh therefore, though it be crols to have limbs cut off, and brealls feared, bones broken,&,·. yet part with all for life, even this life of Chrill in you, which will give you full content. S E C T. Vlii. Q!Jell.HOw fha/11 do thus, myheartwf!I bewanron and carnal? , cAnfw.x.· Serrhisdownforacondufion, I(]ullneverbecomforted by the Lord, w bites any thing elfe comforts my heart, i. e. for it felf, as bath been proved; and iftbis was well thought of, this_w~uld make a man above all orh~r thingsdetell his earn~! comenr, becaufe this Indeed keeps the Lord fromb1m. 2. Keep the remembrance of rhe birternefs of your fin and evil in it; thus <])avid, Plal.5I.j. fer it ever before him; for all th.! f1veec of fin comesi,nco thehe.art by a delulion firll begot in the mind, offome prefenrgood in it, whic~ the foul not attendino to is drawn away by it, Jflm.x.x4. drawnt~wa; find enttced ; hence fortifie h~re. Three things in fin, which if remembred, would make it bitter. I. Sentence: of·condemnation pall upon chee by the Law o~ God _fori~, which may make a foul to mourn : Little c0nrent do men take m their Pnfon-bolts. 2. The death, and agonies, and farrows of the Lord Jefus, ro acq!!lt the foul from this condemnation ; this is that which may work 6ittcrnefs as for a firft born,Zach.rz.xo,II. ' . 3· Croffing the will, and fo grieving'thehearcof C9rill now in glory; as when
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