!/ u8 The Parable of the Ten Virginr, j------------------~----~--------~------~ dm receive him ; and this ar5ues flrong defire,P /.otl.~ I.II ,rz,13. H •m; out of the roe~ 1. Thou lhalt have himfelf taking infinite delight in thee , becaufe h~ will make thee beautiful with his own beauty, and cloath thee with it, Pf-r. 45· 12. :2-. All creatures lhall be fervants to thee throughout the world, Hof. :.u!t. As when one is married, all the fervanrs in the Family are to ferve her or him, fo here it is in regard of.the faithful_: Oh that you could hear the yoyce of the Lord Jefus, and hts earne!t futt to you herein. This yoo fee Is clear. There now wants nothing but for you to give your confem unto him, and therefore this is that which the Lord lays to the charge of men , vi10. rheir breaking off the match; and fo Rro.z2.17.whoever will, la him come11nd tRk$; Prov. I ; 2 9, ~.o.r he; did notehufe the Lord,nor would none of the L ordscotmfel; and this made the Lord caft them off; fo that now there is nothing rut thy will: Shall roe Lord defire it, and wilt not thou be glad of it? there is no beauty in thee, why he lhou!d do this to thee : there is in him beauty and excellency; Oh lball not this love win thee? Shall it befaid ar.orher day; Wherefore is all this evil come upon fuch a. OD)!? h.1d he not means ? had he not offers ? But this lhall come agaioll: thee'· Tou would mt , Oh you \Yould nor. SECT. IV. ONly take rhefe four Cautions ·concerning your confent. . . . Take heed rhat your confent arife not or.ly from fear of mifery, for rhis is aforced confenr, and is ever naught, and it appears fo when rhe mifery is pa!t ; ma~y do rhus in fears of death, or times of calamity; Oh tben rhe Lord, Hof. S.r,z,~. Pf.otl.78·34>H· Secondly, Take heed it be nor a conceit of your c:>wn making in days of peace ; for that which you make from your [elves, you will break alfo ; but rhac it arife fro111 the fence of thine own infufficiency to give confent, and the Lords Almighty power and infinite grace to work it,and then no pcmers of any creature can untie that knot. . · Many hearing of this, Wtll you have Chriil:? Oh yes, withal my hem, and force a confent oy their own Jabor; this is naught;, and hence £;,:,e~r'6.6o,6I. Thel.ord will receive that harlot but not by her covenant, i.e. which !he undertook in her OI'Vn name; no, the Lord mull: work it, Jer. ,. 19. How jh,<fl I do thufor thee,&c. Ho[.2. 19.1 wtll betroth her: For nocteawrecan in.c:line rhe heart to another but rbe Lord; there is a natural antipathy between Chrill: and the Soul; alld hence we fee it in many a ChriRian, ask him, Why cannot you love the Lord, nor cleave to htm? Oh becaufe I know not why; I cannot , I have no heart ; rhe truth is , you have hearts that do loath him ; unlefs the Lord overcome you, you can never fubmit indeed unto the Lord. Thirdly, Look rhat your confent be not made according to your ow~ terms and conditions; for look as it is with a woman, if lhe f11all fay ibe ts conrent.to love fuch a man; but if ihe·keeps an open Inn tG> enterrai~ all il:rangers, and love all commers, or if there is one ibe is in league wtrb; there can be no mariage; fo t!ierefore the conditions are fo, Receive the Lord, and give your confent to love him only, Prov.S. 17. 1 love them that love me, otherwife the march will never be made,If-r.50. I. if you keep your wretched, . . · unruly,
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