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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A49289	An alarm to slumbring Christians, or the parable of the wise and foolish virgins and of the talents, sheep and goats; being a plain and practical exposition of the whole XXV chapter of St. Matthews gospel, calling upon all professors to a strict and constant watchfulness, lest their Lord at his certain and second coming, find them not ready, but with their lamps gone out. By Samuel Loveday	Loveday, Samuel, 1619-1677.; Gosnold, John, 1625?-1678.	1675 (1675)	Wing L3231; ESTC R216910	188,072	322

1.13 where he interprets the loins to be the mind the thoughts gird up the otns of ●our mind and that it is with design of readiness as here is plain by the Contexe that to have the mind the thoughts well fixed is intended here And the Apostle in this kind of speaking doth allude to those loose Garments used in those times and places which garments when they were to travel they girded up close to them ot●erwise they would have much ●indered them in their march The Second Circumstance in order to readine● is their lights burning alluding still to travellers it the night who when they were reckoned to be ready had not only the loins girt but stood with ● light burning in their hand which the foolish Virgins were short in Now these two Circumstances of loins girt and lights burning take in the whole of the readiness for Christ The loins girt take in the whole of the inward man the mind and heart answering to the vessel in our Context The Second relating to the whole of conversation outward and this latter answers to the Lamp it our Context Of each of these a few words First Of our thoughts what is it to have ou● thoughts chus girded up First When our thoughts are fixed upon Christ for acceptance in that day of his appearance that though Christ came as a Bridegroom yet it is of his admirable grace that he accepts of us to be his spouse This was the Faith of holy St. Paul Phil. 3.20 Though his conversation was in Heaven yet he looks for Christ his Saviour not his own righteousness which he undervalueth in that Chapter greatly Thus he exhorts Saints to be looking for Christ Titus 2.13 our Saviour Jesus Christ Secondly A mind girded up is sixed in contemplation of that glory that shall be brought to them at this day of Christs appearing see 1 Pet. 1.13 Thirdly if thy m●nd be girt up it is drawn forth in praising God and rejoycing in the hope of this day of Christs appearing 2 Pet. 3.14 Fourthly Thoughts girded up are humble low thoughts not high or listed up thoughts of our own selves Rom. 12.16 Not thinking high The Second Part of Christs directions relates to the conversation to manwards to hold forth light in our places There are five or six Circumstances in a Christians conversation that give light First In good works Charity and alms liberality to the poor which the Church of Rome takes to be the Oyl in our Text and which the wise Virgins had and the foolish wanted I must acknowledge according to the sequel of this Chapter in the third parable there seems to be some ground for them so to judge see ver 35 36. for I was an hungry and ye gave me meat gives them admission to this glory But I shall not insist upon these Scriptures that seem to favour that opinion I shall only desire you to read three or four Scriptures to the purpose see Luk. 16.9 And I sa● unto you make you friends of the mammon of unrighteousness that when you fail they may receive you into everlasting habitations Luk. 12.33 Sell that you have give alms provide your selves bags that wax not old a treasure in heaven that fails not read Tim. 6.17 18. read the words and counsel of Christ Mat. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men that they seeing your good works may glorifie your Father which is in Heaven From all which places we may gather that Charity and good works is a way wherein Christians have their lights burning Secondly Our lights burn or shine in holding forth the truths of Jesus Christ and the Gospel as opportunity affords it self to us This is that the Apostle calls for from the Philippians Phil. 2.15 16. this is called for to this ●nd that they might shine as lights in the world Thirdly That wherein our lights shine is in a circumspect observation of our duties in our particular relations every one hath his particular work Husbands Wives Masters Servants Parents Children and each in their places do either guid● or stumble others by their walking this carefu● walking herein will not only keep the name of God from being dishonoured and blasphemed 1 ●im 6.1 but will be a great means to adorn and beautify the Profession 2 Tit. 10. Fourthly Our lights do shine fourth in ou● just righteous and faithful dealings with men to be blameless harmless to keep promises and do to others as we would have them do to us the wan● hereof hath in all ages rendred Christians dark no● light Fifthly Our lights should shine forth in out words there is much light held forth this way as we may gather from Eph. 4.5 Sixthly Moderation in all our injoyments eating drinking cloathing as to joy and sorrow towards Relations this doth demonstrate a Person rightly waiting for Christ those who are waiting for Christ must not ex●●ed in these things as the old World and Sodom ●id spoken of Math. 24 Luk. 14. see also 1 Cor. 7.29 this is required as the time is short and they wairing for Christ As to the proof of this Doctrine I shall name but two Scriptures Math. 24.44 Be ye therefore ready so Luk. 12.40 Be ye also ready for the Son of Man cometh in a day when ye loo● not for him But why doth our Lord require this readiness I answer in general for our good and the equity of it First We must be ready from consideration of the suddain and swift coming of our Lord Mala. 3.2 The Lord shall suddenly come to his Temple Mark 13.36 ●est coming suddenly he find you sleeping 1 Cor. 15.46 He comes in the twinkling of an eye Second Reason Because none but those ready can stand before him in that day see Mala. 3.2 Esa 33.15 We read of a certain Creature who if he seeth a man before the man seeth him it is deadly it is true in this case for if we are not waiting for Christ and ready for him at his coming it is deadly for Christ to come at unawares or when you look not for him is very dangerous Third Reason Christ may well expect from the time he gives to make ready and he expects an improvement of time according to time given as he did of ●ezebel Rev. 2.21 Fourth Reason Jesus Christ may rationally expect his should be ready because he hath at his own charge allowed her where with to be ready as Rev. 19.8 To her was granted or given that she should be arrayed Fifth Reason Jesus Christ himself is ready with all his provision as appears from his declaration Math. 22.17 All things are ready Sixth Reason There is no one thing wherein we shew our love to Christ more than in being ready and rather waiting for him than Christ for thee I shall close this with a word of Use First Vse Be exhorted to make ready for him have nothing to do when Christ comes whether by death to thee or in Person Consider it

AN ALARM To Slumbring CHRISTIANS Or the PARABLE Of the Wise and Foolish VIRGINS And of the TALENTS SHEEP and GOATS BEING A plain and practical exposition of the whole XXV Chapter of St. Matthews Gospel calling upon all Professors to a strict and constant Watchfulness lest their Lord at his certain and second Coming find them not ready but with their Lamps gone out Blessed are those Servants whom the Lord when he cometh shall find watching Be ye therefore ready also for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not Luk. 12.37.40 By Samuel Loveday LONDON Printed for Francis Smith at the Eleph●nt and Castle near the Royal-Exchange in Cor●●●● 1675. THE EPISTLE To the READER FRiend whoever thou art into whose hands this insuing piece may come I must say the rudeness of speech and unpolished stile of the ensuing Book doth necessarily not complementally call for a Prologue or Preface of Apology for it self and this I say in its behalf that it was never intended for so publick a view in the first study of it but only to be communicated to that small Congregation over which I am concerned by the providence and grace of God as a Pastor or Feeder to whom or in whose hearing these things were more largely handled for the space of one whole Year by the Author who intended so to have left it had not strong and following importunities from several who had been hearers of the matter more largely changed my mind and prevailed with me to publish it and if any by the publication receive any profit they are debters to the forenamed under God for it For my own part I am I can say truly deeply sensible of much imperfection in the management and that I shall need thy candid and favourable indulgence overlooking manner and heeding matter as it agrees with the current of Scripture The brokenness and imperfections hereof were partly occasioned by the length of time since they were delivered and partly that those notes remaining in my hands were very concise and brief being but the very heads of the matter insisted on this I only leave as a modest plea for my self knowing that truth is of age to speak for it self And so I proceed to an Introduction to the matter it self contained in the following discourse The matter before us is excellent matter though wrapt up in Parables not with a design to lock it from us but that in condescending to set forth heavenly things by earthly we might the easier come at the meaning Now this we must know that all terms and circumstances in a Parable are not for probation but illustration a Parable will not always as we say run upon all four but we must eye and observe the scope and design of a Parable and it is the work of a Gospel Minister not only to Preach but to expound and open the Scriptures and divide or cut asunder the Scriptures giving each their Portion It was the work of our Lord Christ when he was on earth not only to preach as we find him doing Math. 5. Luk. 4. but expounding the Scriptures See that remarkable place Luk. 24.27 beginning at Moses and all the Prophets he expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself though the Scriptures do in good measure expound themselves if well observed yet the Lord in all ages appointed instruments for that work God foresaw there would be need of Interpreters When the Eunuch read the Prophet he wanted some body to guide him and God guides Philip to do this office God usually conveys light by instruments whom he first inlightens The Subject which we have before us is a heart-searching Subject if seriously heeded and as heart-work is the principal and only work which Professors are to be conversant about in this latter day so it is to be feared there is no work more superficially carried on by most some not knowing what it means others forgetful of their hearts not observing Solomons Counsel Prov. 4.23 to keep the heart with all diligence The Apostle St. Paul in his days did foresee in the last days many Professors would be loose as to this main duty which makes him to predict it unto his Son Timothy 2 Tim. 3. Now as I said before the great design of our Lord here is that his Disciples waiting for him should have grace in their hearts a good inside as well as a Profession as you may perceive Christ doth loudly call for a good heart and he knew then the outside would be good also for saith Christ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good But mistake me not I do not in the least by what I say design to slight or undervalue Profession but my design and aim is to arm you against degenerating into meer form and a Carcass of Religion without the Spirit and power of it That state is very nauseous and offensive to Gods all-seeing Eye who would have the Churches to know that he is the searcher of the heart and the tryer of the reins Rev. 2.23 The Church in Sardis was then in her Wane when she had a name to live and was dead Rev. 3.2 3. her fault was not that she had a name to live but that she had the name without the nature and what was it that gave her this name to live was it not the form Church Membership Ordinances and what was it that denominated her to be dead but want of faith love zeal yea Oyl in the heart had not these Virgins a name to live are they not called Virgins a living name but wanted life in the Root Had not these Servants of Christ a name to live whilst called Christs own Servants but they wanted love faith and zeal to Christ their Lord in his business had not these Goats a name to live were they not clean Creatures and allowed for sacrifice and was not a Kid of the Goat equally acceptable as a Lamb of the flock but all these are rejected by Christ for want of life in the root This consideration makes me in the Subject following spend so much time and pains in demonstrating sincerity from hypocrisie as you will find as you go along Oh! sincerity is the life of all a perfect heart is that which renders a weak Person although defective in many things yet acceptable with God Take notice of those two remarkable passages between Asa and Amaziah 2 Chro. 15.17 though the high places were not taken away yet the heart of Asa was perfect all his days see the contrary ● Chro. 25.2 concerning Amaziah he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord but not with a perfect heart God measures men by their hearts whether in good or evil actions no man can keep acquaintance and fellowship with God without a perfect heart though he may possibly keep fellowship with the Church yet Christ knows not such but so as to

all manner of conversation without holiness none can see much less know God Heb. 12.14 such as vvork iniquity cannot be said to knovv him Vse See of what absolute necessity knowing Christ is here in order to a hopeful expectation of Christs knowing thee at the day of his coming in Glory labour therefore to know and be acquainted vvith Christ here study the name and nature of Christ know him in all his offices and excellencies I shall close this Doctrine with the words of Jesus Christ John 17.3 And this is life eternal to know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent Thus I have finished the twelfth verse and proceed to the thirtenth verse Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh We are now come to the conclusion of this first parable which contains Christs application of the whole upon his Disciples In this verse we have contained two general parts First A duty injoyned watch ye Secondly We have the Argument to inforce the duty for ye know not the day nor the hour when Christ shall come Watch therefore because you have heard and understood how suddain and unexpected a disappointment these Virgins have or rather shall have met with for it is to be understood to be but a parable our Lord propounds this duty as the only way and means to prevent miscarrying Watch therefore In my prosecution of this verse I shall endeavour these five things First I shall explain this so great and useful duty of watchfulness I shall shew you what our Lord means by this duty Secondly I shall shew you how want of watchfulness was the foundation of the destruction of the foolish Virgins Thirdly Shew you some reasons why Christ and his Apostles do so much call for this duty in Gospel days and the more as the time draws near Fourthly Lay down some Characters of a watchful person Fifthly I shall endeavour to press our Lords us● of exhortation upon Christians in this day To the first what watchfulness is in it self the word here translated watch is excito to stir up or a waken the lowest acceptation of watchfulness is wakefulness in opposition to sleeping to keep the eyes open is a sort of watchfulness This is plain from Christs words to his Disciples Mat. 26. when he found them thus sleeping watch saith he that is keep your natural eyes open This watching I dare not exclude in our Text for if there may be excess in eating and drinking so also there may be in sleeping in giving way to drowsiness and sottishness This Solomon inveighs much against in his Proverbs love not sleep lest thou come to poverty Prov. 20.13 and this watching I dare not exclude Acts 20.31 to the elders of the Church of Ephesus therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn you every one night and day with tears St. Paul had broke his sleep to perform his duty to the Churches and this he offers as an example for them to imitate And this we know is the course of the world in earthly concerns they rise betimes and go to bed late sometimes their Candle goeth not out by night as we read Prov. 31.18 of the industrious and prudent woman now we are to seek for wisdom as for silver Prov. 2.3 4. break our sleep for it silver seekers do so We have the example of our Lord upon this account who rose up a great while before day upon a spiri●●●l account to preach and pray Mark 1.35 and we read also of David Psal 119. he rose at midnight to pray and praise the Lord. St. Paul and Silas did so Act. 16.25 From hence the false Church of Rome have their Vigils their Night Watchers and of this watchfulness some have experienced much spiritual profit when the heart hath been in it and I am sure if Persons are resolvedly set for grace and glory they would find need of this watching But I shall bend my self to speak to the watchfulness of the inward man as being the principal end that without which the other cannot profit There is a spiritual and inward sleep taken notice of in the Scriptures some of which Scriptures I shall cite Rom. 13.11 It is high time to awake out of sleep Eph. 5.14 Awake thou that sleepest stand up from the dead 1 Thes 5.6 Let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober all which Scriptures must needs relate to the inward watchfulness I speak of this sleep is when our spiritual senses are asleep for as the natural body hath its senses so the inward man hath his senses according to ● b. 5. have their senses exercised There are five senses relating to the inward Man Seeing Hearing Smelling Feeling Tasting but I shall but name this because I touched upon it before This watchfulness consists in three Circumstances First Observation Secondly Exercise Thirdly Expectation First Observation where the mind and understanding eye and affection are looking out this is wat●hing Hab. 2.1 I will set me upon my watch-tower to see there his observation is called watching see Jerem. 20.10 They watch for my ●alting that is observe thus it is said the Jews watched to kill St. Paul that is sought opportunity Act. 9.24 Secondly A watch implies industry exercise use of means thus it must be understood of the Master of the house Math. 24.43 He would have watched and not suffered his house to be broken he would have been awake both exercising his weapon to defend and offend barely keeping his eyes open would not have hindred his breaking in watching is an industrious work see how St. Paul speaks to the Church of the Corinthians 1 Cor. 16.13 Watch yea stand fast quit your selves like men be strong so also to Timothy 2 Tim. 4.5 Watch thou and indure affliction these go together Thirdly Watching supposeth expectation earnest looking out with longing thus to be understood Luk. 12. which I have touched before so Psal 130.5 6. I wait for the Lord watching and waiting are the same many times in Scripture Thus I have briefly opened the nature of this duty of watchfulness it is a wakeful observing industrious expecting frame of Spirit The second thing that I am to speak unto is this How this want of watchfulness was the foundation of the miscarrying of the foolish Virgins I answ That the foundation of their miscarriage did not consist in not opening their eyes but in the want of a painful use of means herein they were short they were slothful in a time of harvest when they might have furnished themselves they fought when it was to late and that this was the ground of their miscarriage will appear plainly from the next Parable the whole scope whereof is to incourage industry before Christ come the Oyl the Wedding Garment is the fruit of industry these foolish Virgins had not been in good earnest for heaven