I ________ O_pe_ne_d_a_nd_A_p_p_ue_~ ________ l __ 8_9_ 'gO' to Shavelinps. that will for money fell Pardons, and Indulgen.:ies, and Prayers, and Mems. SECT. II. Q:!elt. wHat then are the '!"fe umvi~ling t~co.nmunicate of the Graces they h.we? what Chrijftan br1t u wrltmg? . .An}iv.Firfi, We are not to adhe(e to words in opening Parables, but the [cope; now rhdr [cope was hereby , Firfl: to !ink and humble rhe hearts cf rhe foolilh, and to let them know that all that which they had in time of extremiry, was little enough for themfelves at this feafon. ~econdly, This anfwer is made anfwerable to _the ground of their requefi:; you know how Hypocrites in Churches reil: in outward priviledges, and bow theyare carried unto Ordinances, bur nor above Ordinances indeed to Chri)1 ; and though they have fome knowledge of, and looklngs above them unro Chrill, yet miffinghim, like men !inking catch hold upon that which is next, and fo ' lookforhelpthence ; · fo thefe beinginthefell01vlhipof the wife, and admirers of them., and having got good by them, and imitated them, hence they re!ye too much upon them for it; and hence they anfwer, We have but our meafure, and therefore it is nor in our hands to difpenfe grace iq times of exrrerniry ; -.chat mull: come from him that hath received the Spirit without mea- / fure; fo that this an[wer dod1,not imply unwillingnefs to communicate, but to let the others fee thacthey we_r:anot the firll that could communicate. Thi rdly, You are to con!ider that God had now broken open the confciencesof rhdooliih, thatthey profelfed they had no oyl; hereupon the wife Virgins are not unwilling to communicate · a!t_ogerher ; · but wn!iderino other means are lanB:ified to beget Grace where it never was, or rarhe~ of orearer efficacy and power; .hence they fend them to other m~ans, to them chat fell , profeffing this for their ground, that they had little enough for tbemfelves; anJ it was not in their power now ro convey any : This I conceive is the direct fcope of the Parable in this Verfe: Hence three Notes. SECT. III. THat the Grace of Godr Spirit in other wzfe-hearted Chriftians, -will do no .good to fooli{h Virgins, aTJd jlothf ul Ch;ifti~m in rh: d":JS of their ex- Ohfervatremtty. Ezek.14.2o. 'Fhough Job and Dame! {food before me, they (hall but t ion I· delivertheirownfouls; gracious holy men, if not only in mifery but !in 1 Joh. 5.1 6. they ihall recover; not others, J <r+4· left my wrath break__ oMt lik! fire• . Ob therefore dally not under Ordinances; to hav~ rh~m, bur no gain of them; to have Vines planted, but not ro eat fruit of rhem,and all by rea[on of a llotbful heart, is a dangerous thing ; as many a man hatb a rich fl ock, and a good trade, and yet thrives nor; Oh he is not careful ro keep, nor dili;ent to improv~, but is idle ; fo h~re Oh con!ider the wrath of God ! In exrremiry ufually the Lord hears and helps his poor people ; but it ihall be far from the Lord, when others lhall fay Lordhelp; i1o, let others tears and prayers be regarded; no, what Lord, n'ot ' in extremity ? no, not in extremity. Mm m SECT. IV·
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