I I Opened and Applied. J SECT. V. I V f: ~. IT is of e~amination to all the Virgins; Would J.·o~ ~;z,ow whe- \ thtr the Lwd will br.ing JOU to eternal fellowfhip zpith him! arc l JOU ready for him, madeft to live with hi~ or.no.? f?r J:e re on!J th.je which Are ready , are .recetved m; the foolijh V•~gms J,d ~·e fo long apetp, that little dtd they thmk_ they were unready, unttl! the .Endegroome came, and it WM too !are. It is the condition of many at thts day,. that linle dream of their feparationfrom Chrifi, and yet fhall be when he comes; l but cbey bavefomehopes and affurance;cbey lookromeet the Bridegroome ' when he lhall come, and fo fall into a fweet fleep; a comfortable condition , umill the Lords <:oming, puts them upon more; narrow fearching than ' ever before; char whtch many rhmk gold now, fhall be found hay , and fiubble, and confumed to nothing at the coming of duifi; therefore fear'h . nowj know there is many a gracious foul cbai: is ready, feares to flip . i~ ac rh~ paffage ov~r t~at narrow b~idge, between life and death , this end of • time and beomnmg of ecermty , and. loth I am to fad any ; bur, heare what '1 lbali ~ow fay _in feare; when ~here _a~e thefethreethings in the fo 4!_, j rhen it is ready ; whlles any are wanung , lt 1s unready ; · And by thele tty , your felves. ' ' 1 x·; w· Hen the foul, the Spoufe of Chrifi is made Iovel~ by. irs We4ding Garment , rhe Royal Robe of his own tighceoufnefs in the eyes of _Chrifi ; . for this Bridegr?om , though h~ findes his .Sp~!'e filtlif, yet he bemg glonousand lovely htmfelf, makes H lovely ansl glori£lus, Epb. 5· z 5, z6. A OE_een fir for the. tellowlhip of this King of Kings , and rhorow this righreoufnefs ( though otherwife weak and vile, yet) che objea of his, and rhe Fathers infinite and endlefs delight ln heavenly-Glory; now it is fie, Zach. 3· I, z, 3, 4, 5· z Cor. 5· z, 3· Without this rigbreoufnefs, there is nothing butlhameful nakednefs in the bell; fo as-rhe foul w.irh .Adam, will rather feek boccomes of Mounraines eo hide it from Chrift, ' cpani eo appeare before him. Now examine you Saints; time was , that "fintle was no D.1aml:! c9 thee , though thou didft wallow in chat Vomit· , imdlived!l in ir, and lived!l by ic as by rhy Trade; or if the Lord did keep and cleah(e yoa from foule.lins,and char you could pray ,and f6rrow,and ktlow artd remeO'l:;. her what you heard , and had fome good affe&ions , -now ·you \"ere fome b&- dy in your own•eyes, and it may be you thought if ypu died tben,you·lhe:\uil:l . ro heaven, and Cbri!l mufi needs fave you; who lhoutd hel:ave elfe ? ·bUt: .now the Lord barb made thee poor in fpirit , and alharrted'i nay, the L<~rd haeh made thee lie down confounded, becauf~ of all r~y lh~me ·?ef()I:e him ;I and the Lord harh made thee fee a glory, a. nfin~ Sun 1ri Cb(ifl~ 1£tghte0\lr~ nefs which the Gofpel harh brought to light; though thou ·wert a -po6t, I naked, condemned , vile creature; yet the Lord hath made thee 1eek for ·-ir, fo as eo efieern all things lofs to be found there, and now here is all thou haft to glory in, as chat which may make thee lovely in the fathers light ; and here the Lord bath quieted thy confcien~-e, and heart alfo; be nor dif- ----------------~--~--------------~---~co~uN~~e_d~,~------
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