I--_ ___- _..,.'------'------::---------- 1 . ~~? 1 _ The f' arable ofthe Ten Virginr, I lj ce_edin;ly r~ken :virh this rb.1t David accounted them b!elftd4hat ;,· ,g:" aw. i< :,.1 I h:s Courts m rh1s world; So!omo11 was blelfed rhar m1ght lmr .•a;c 4r "'irdoms g"w, and fo. b~ ready t\J be receiv::d wh~n rh~y b;! op"net; ; A/;r.,l;~m ; ·• ' 'j~;ced to f~c Cl~r ji's day'<~fa rojf; CMo)J rfl~mJtdrhe reP,ro.tch of Chnft :l.''t •t j ·rtl'}Jer; wh.rt d~d h: rhen e(kem or rh<: prcrfe-iJ€1: of Chnfl her~ ! ·bu: llii har iu l ;iW1y' !' ' .• •' I ! .c ' ' . . .. I -· 0'1Jhink of rhis, you chat fay • yo~:~ cannot {inde inymlr ht!lons ro efleem of the: I -f.fJ(B Jefus; efpecially let hirrl be pre'tious tb you, you cfpou(ed of the Lord . for . 1 ·others may fay he is precio ~s;b,,( I Jballneve·r enter_ int~ chis _fdlowlhip: No, no, bur you !hall, bur h;,: w1l'l rak~ you to.fellowlhtp With h1mfelf: Ir was a · great favor to Mo.res, Exod. 24. r,z. when orhers might come towards rhe I Lord, yet .ilfofes alone might only come near; ~ndhe was in rlie Mou;.t 11/o;,e 'fPith God; ·fo <thar rh<! Lord· J!:tould let orherscome cowards him; burrhatyou al:ll1e above rrtany rhouf.1nds m ~he world may befuffer~d redraw nearrohi:n, 1 this Jbould make rhe Lord precious to you at·leafl. Lev,13·'1'6. The Leper w.u to dwell a-lone wirhout; rhe Lord' mlght have dealt fo .with the!; butwbinthou \vert vile itrdeed, a1~ d mofl·vih!; ·nay when rhou didfl fep~rate rhy lfelf from ~hy , fe1f, then for tht: Lord ro come near epee, and .(as _rr rhou couldfl n~ver be • near enou~h ; to manifefl himfdf to thedd{ever in glory !'When David found our Mqhibofoerh (fairh he)Hhat am I tt dead dog' rhat. t:fhoutd fit atthe Kings tv.b!e ! 2 Sam.g.7,8.. It was a great favor ro Chrifl himfelf, char when rejeet- ~d of men, y!!.t ~hat he was chofen 'of God and preci«?u~ 'andrakt;n up to him; 1tmay be thou rhmkelt rlly fdf unworrhy •of,fellowlh1pof any man, and men do, or men man rejeCl: rhee; yet for the Lbrd now to rc:ceive rhee, it is much ; but whereas thou were nor only rejeCted of men, but of God alfo, If.c.H.6. now for Chrifl to take rhee to him ; chat as he lies in the Far hers bofom, becaufe rhou could(l notfor ftn immediately lye rhere, he lhould lay rhee in his bJfom, andfay, Fatherlovethufoul.csrhouhaftlovedme: Beftdes,rheFarher rook Chrifl b!caufe he had worth; bur for 'Cfurifl to take rhee when thou hadfl no worrbinefs! for onetotakedrofsandprizdt when others caH: ita~ay, it is much ; ir is no wonder if pearls be fo efk'emed of, but for dirt ro be prized ! Oh therefore let the Lord be precious, and his fell01'VIhip precious to rhee, feeing thou and cby fellow/hip is fo eo him. Object. But I c.tnnot believe it, why fhou/d the Lord do fo ? ' .Anfw. It is hard CO believe it when we look upon our own vilenefs; but conG.der the reafon why the Lord dot!l this ; it is not becaufe he loves any fodldhly , refpeets as we do ; but · ' . , Fir!t, Becaufe of his own grace and glory; the_ Believer is infinitely beloved of him, without moving him thereunto; and hence if his grace be exceedingdear,andhis glory dear to him, rhou arrfo ro him. · Secondly , Chrift loves not fir(t b<:caufe men are holy, but rhac he may make ch~m fo. · Thirdly, He loves becaufe the father loves rhem. I ~~----1 SECT. XII. ! . . I ii-1Encelearnto becontencwichrht Lordalone, Hc/J-4-9· thereu "reft ; \ " .'l. hence labor ro entt:r into it; fo if he will have re(t and blelfedriefs here- ' afrer, that you ,lhal! be content and forever glad in him and with him alone; Oh tabor to polfefs this blelfednefs now: You are inxourworfl condition now, your bell is behind; /hall rhe blefiednefs of thy belt condition, not be bi~edne!S in thy worfl cond· cion unto thee ? /hall that wliich fatisfies thy foul in · heaven
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