Ophir Isa 13. 12. at least wherein there are Seven Women unto One Man Isa 4. 1. And as appeareth by Mens injudicious Actings Thence is it that many are so tossed to and fro and Principles so frequently contradicted nor can men give a Reason of their Faith or Practice because they are guided mostly by Affections as Ships are by their Stern and not their Head 6. We else shall want the benefit of that Satisfaction in a Duty which otherwise might be enjoyed How chearfully both Horse and Man will Travel in a way that 's known compared with another though possibly an unknown path may be as right and better And though poor Brutes are pleased if onely Sense be in its Exercise yet Men and much more Christians are like to Fishes upon the Land out of their proper Element save as their Judgment also is employed The Sinners mis-guided Understanding doth yield him more imagined content than doth the Upright Walker's Ignorance What Pleasure can any take in Hearing the most precious Truths save as he grasps them Nor is the Conscience satisfied with the fairest Shews save as Affections are enlivened with an Intelligent Heart or Soul 'T is not a Real but Rational Act of Faith which giveth Comfort or as a Direct Act of Believing is Reflected on Nor can we Joy in any kind of Duty or Obedience in a solid way save as it is perform'd with Understanding since else its Graciousness cannot be known which groundeth Joy 7. Acts unadvisedly performed or without Judgment are never Lasting As is the Root or Fountain so is the durableness of streams and Branches Some little Rivulets fed by a Living Spring will hold their Course when greater Land-Floods are wholly dryed up And Ivy about the Oak will dye when Natural Oak-Branches Live because that Ivy hath not these Branches Root He onely believeth for a while who hath no Root Luke 8. 13. for want of Hearing with Understanding Mat. 13. 23. Thence is it that an Hypocrite will not Pray alway Job 27. 10. Nor will a Fool pay that which he hath rashly Vowed Eccl. 5. 4. No more than Foolish Virgins will ever persevere who take not Oyl in Vessels at their first setting out But that which is done in Judgment is done for ever Hos 2. 19. It s Nature hath been duly weighed and therefore it will not lightly be Repented of Effects and Consequents have been considered which therefore will not hinder its Pursuance and that which is begun wâ—th good Advice will never fail through want of being furnished with what is needful for its Accomplishment Judicious Saints will persevere 8. Else câ—n we look for no Acceptance much less a Rececompence save as our Actings and Affections proceed from Judgment The Head among all other Parts was first required in Legal Sacrifices Lev. 1. 8. because that is the Seat of Knowledge But if we Offer the blind for Sacrifice will God be pleased with us or Accept us Mal. 1. 8 He therefore hears not Sinners John 9. 31. for he hath no pleasure in such Fools Eccl. 5. 4. whose Heart is so far distant from himself Isa 29. 13. and from their Duty Ezek. 33. 31. And what Reward can Men expect from God in case their Work be of a Brutish Nature Man's Understanding is that Male which God hath Blest him with chiefly for Sacrifices to himself and without which no Blessing but a Curse is to be looked for from this great King Mal. 1. 14. Such may go wrong as well as right for ought they know who know not what they do And Duty performed by Accident may Peradventure be Rewarded or if it so falls out Such act not with Respect to a Divine Command for then Obedience would be Universal John 6. 38 39. And if the Command sets not on work the Promise is at Liberty in point of Pay Such do but half their work at best leaving the better half undone And no Inheritance can be expected unless the Lord be followed wholly Josh 14. 9. 9. Discretion will Preserve thee Prov. 2. 11. but there is he that is Destroyed for want of Judgment Prov. 13. 23. both in respect of Sin and Suffering How sadly in his haste did David speak Psal 116. 11. And there is more hope of of a Fool in point of being Reclaimed from Sin than of one hasty in his words or matters Prov. 29. 20. And as to Sufferings Judgments are prepared for him that scorneth Judgment Prov. 19. 28 29. Yea it went ill with Moses for speaking unadvisedly Psal 106. 33. And Nadab and Abihu dyed for Offering strange Fire before the Lord Lev. 10. 1 2. being somewhat Distempered in their Heads as seemeth to be hinted by that immediate following Prohibition of Drinking Wine or Strong drink when going into the Tabernacle v. 9. And if the bare Carnality of Affections Typified by that strange Fire be of so sad a Nature how do they take God's Name in vain for which he will not hold them guiltless Exod. 20. 7. who Sleep or Wander in a Religious Duty And what if he then should cut them off as he did those Priests 10. How just is it with God to give those up unto an in-judicious mind who do not serve him with their Mind or Judgment As that unprofitable Servant's Talent was taken from him Mat. 25. 28. And as their Vineyard is Let out to others who do deny its Fruits unto the chief Proprietor Mat. 21. 24. Yea customary sleightiness doth Naturally beget an Habit of that kind which soon will leaven the whole â—ump of Actions As one may be so Giddy with frequent Turning as not to Command his standing when he would Now a Reprobate Mind or void of Judgment as the Greek word signifieth is one of the saddest Characters and sorest Judgments threatned Rom. 1. 28. the fear whereof made Paul to mind himself that which he Preach'd to others 1 Cor. 9. 27. How sad would it be if Hearts should grow wild through wandring and silly through multiplyed Acts of In-advertency and Carnal for want of Exercising Spiritual Infused Habits which else may fall into a great Decay A Closed Eye is justly blinded Mat. 13. 14 15. 11. If Vessels be not filled with Oyl they will abound with something else unto our Dis-advantage There being no absolute vacuity or utter emptiness and as not in a Natural so neither in this Moral Sence Hence it is that sleighty Professors are of an Airy Spirit at the best yea even their Mind and Conscience is Defiled also Titus 1. 15. who do profess to know God but in their Works deny him to every good work being Reprobate or void of Judgment v. 16. An empty Vessel is apt to have Puddle-water cast into it by some mischievous Person And empty Houses though never so Neatly Garnished are subject to be haunted or possess'd by Evil Spirits Mat. 12. 44 45. Since while Men sleep the Enemy will sow his Tares Mat. 13. 25. And therefore if the
all their former strength as Sampson was together with his Locks whilst Delilah made him sleep upon her Knees Judg. 16. 19. The Enemy may come and sow his Tares among their Wheat who are asleep Mat. 13. 25. which will not be rooted again v. 30. so long as this World continueth v. 39. Yea such may have a Dead Child or one of Satan's Brats laid in their Bosom instead of one alive as had that Woman while she slept 1 Kings 3. 20. Such may be in Danger of being Slain as Saul was when fast asleep 1 Sam. 26. 7 8. who lost his Spear and yet he knew it not v. 21. Yea such being softly gone unto may have a Nail driven into their very Temples as Sisera had when he was fast asleep Judg. 4. 21. Those Men are more than Slumberers who are not deeply sensible at that very instant of such like Spiritual Losses and Hazards run 5. Men fast asleep are apt to be secure though in the midst of utmost Dangers as sleeping Drunkards are upon a top-Mast and in the midst of the Sea Prov. 23. 30. 34 and as poor sleeping Jonah was when the Ship was almost broken and Heathen Mariners cryed every Man unto his God Jonah 1. 4 5. Such have Gray hairs upon them here and there and yet they know it not Hos 7. 9. Feasting and making Merry when at the very Gates of Death Isa 22. 13. The Day of the Lord is Darkness and not Light to them yet do they Ignorantly desire it Amos 6. 18. although not likely to stand at his Appearing Mal. 3. 1 2. Yea such will Eat and Drink and Buy and Sell and Plant and Build untill the Son of Man doth Come as in the days of Lot and Noah unto their utter overthrow Luke 17. 26. 28. 30. Whereas a watchful Christian is constantly at work with Holy Fear Phil. 2. 12. not being secure though in no visible Danger Job 3. 25 26. but Trembling in himself when speaking of God's Salvation for his Annointed People Hab. 3. 13. 16. How would it startle some asleep could they but see how daily Industrious and self-suspitious others are whose work is yet already done as to the Main thereof 6. Men fast asleep are apt to be awakened with much Affrightment upon some rouzing Noise or Accidents as that poor Jaylor was who being awakened with an Earthquake and seeing the prison-doors open drew out his Sword and would have killed himself supposing the Prisoners had been fled Acts 16. 26. 27. Such being pricked at the Heart are subject to cry with shâ—icking What shall we do Acts 2. 37 Yea to lay violent Hands upon themselves as Judas did Mat. 27. 5. or at least Desperately to say with Cain My sin is greater than that it may be forgiven Gen. 4. 13. as the Margin there hath it and as the same Hebrew words are elsewhere rendred Psal 51. 5. Gen. 50. 17. Exod. 10. 17. And if Judge Felix Trembled when Paul a Prisoner did but Reason at his Bar concerning the future Day of Judgment Acts 24. 25. much more will such be startled when awakened out of their present sleep Dan. 12. 2. and made to appear before Christ's Judgment-Seat 2 Cor. 5. 10. to receive their dreadful Sentence Mat. 25. 41. And in the mean time Chriâ—t's Coming as a Bridegroom in the Night will â—e in such Men's Apprehensions like that of a Thief Rev. 3. 3. or as if he came onely to steal and kill and to destroy John 10. 10. Whereas a watchful Christian can bear Convictions without Astonishment Ezra 10. 2. and will have Confidence at Christ's Appearing 1 John 2. 28. being able immediately to Open to him when he shall come and knock Luke 12. 36. Quest 5. How are we to Interpret that word All with reference unto the Virgins their being over-taken with this Temptation Answ This word All is of a Diverse Acceptation of use to be Observed 1. It sometimes signifieth some of All sorts where there is any Distribution made as of these Virgins into Wise and Foolish Thus Christ is said to have tasted Death with reference to its special Benefits for All or Every Man Heb. 2. 9. as he did sometimes heal All Sicknesses and Every Disease among the People Mat. 4. 23. That is some of All sorts or all Manner thereof as it is there Translated which is the same Greek word as in the other place Thus also All the World is sometimes used as when John Writing to the Jews calls Christ a Propitiation not onely for Their sins but also for the sins of the whole World 1 John 2. 2. viz. for some of All sorts both Jews and Gentiles which Gentiles Distinct from Jews are sometimes called the World Rom. 11. 12. and not with respect to Every individual in the World since Christ is onely a Propitiation through Faith Rom. 3. 25. which Faith All Men have not 2 Thes 3. 2. In which sence also Christ lightneth every Man John 1. 9. if meant of Spiritual Light since some have not the Spirit Jude 19. But All the Virgins in my Text is meant of more than some of All sorts 2. By this word All sometimes the whole or Every Individual is intended without the least Restriction or Limitation Thus All as in the Greek or whosoever believeth in Christ shall not perish John 3. 15. and thus the Promise is sure to All the Seed which is of the Faith of Abraham Rom. 4. 16. And thus All Israel in the Letter shall at last be saved Rom. 12. 26. Thus also is Marriage Honourable in All without excepting any in competition with Fornication Heb. 13. 4. And thus All Scripture and every part thereof unto a word or syllable is given by Holy Inspiration 2 Tim. 3. 16. But as the former sence was too Restrictive so is this Second too Comprehensive to be intended in my Text as if All Virgins or Professors not any one excepted are then asleep or slumbring since there would else be no room for any Watchers nor consequently such whom Christ will then serve which yet is intimated Luke 12. 37. and by such Watchers this very Cry at Mid-night seemeth to be made therefore All will not be asleep in that sence 3. The word All is oft-times put to signifie the Generality as All Judea went out to John Mat. 3. 5. And as those walked in All God's Ordinances Luke 1. 6. and as the Gospel went into All the Earth Rom. 10. 18. c. In which last sence these Virgins All of them are said to sleep and slumber The Ground and Reason of which General sleep may be as unto God That so the Lord might thereby Humble the Generality of Professors at such a Time And thus was David's Covenant partly Ordered 2 Sam. 23. 5. that none should then seek after God Psal 14. 2. as his Dispensation was a Type of Christ's Rom. 3. 11. and as with reference unto Christ's Spiritual Kingdom so with Respect unto his
Tempter at a Distance and quickly clear themselves of that Pollution which resteth upon Others till they wake And though Sleep in the Letter is Refreshing yet in a Spiritual sence those are most Cheary who are most Awake Yea such are also in the best Capacity of being helpfull unto Others 3. Such will be Forwardest to See and Know and Open unto Christ when he shall be revealed Those had the first Tydings of Christs Birth who were then keeping Watch over their Flock by Night Luke 2. 8 9. as if Christ had been onely born for them v. 11. The VVatchmen upon Mount Ephraim are First heard to crie Arise and let us goe up to Sion Jer. 31. 6 and Sion's Watchmen shall lift up the Voice with Singing for they shall see Eye to Eye Isa 52. 8. If Mary had not been up before Day-break Luke 24. 1. she had not seen her Lord so soon Joh. 20. 1. 8 and Early Sights of such a Nature will countervail the want of Sleep sufficiently Such also will Immediately Open to him Luke 12. 36. since Readiness consists in Watching and if it be a Priviledge to be In Christ First Rom. 16. 7. by way of Trusting Eph. 1. 13. then to be First with him which is reserved for the watchfull Ones 4. Such will be less Affrighted as in the Letter with that Noyse wherewith the Old Heavens must pass away when Christ doth come 2 Pet. 3. 10. How did that Jaylour Tremble when he was Frighted out of his Sleep with that tremendous Earthquake and its Consequents Act. 16. 26 27 29 who else would not have been so much Amazed nor Others Now at such a like Earthquake in the Mystery but for their having been Asleep Sleep makes secure Security preventeth Expectation and unexpected Troubles are Transporting thence are the Sinners in Sion so Afraid at such a time because surprized Isa 33. 14 and that surprizal is the Fruit of slumbring Whereas Awakened ones are in the constant Exercise both of their Sense and Reason or like on Army Training in the Field who therefore are not so Affrightingly alarmed as when Asleep in their respective Quarters The Holiest ones in former times have been least Terrified with those Revolutions which have betrayed Others into Ensnaring Fears by reason of their unwatchfulness 5. Such are most likely to Escape since Watchers are counted worthy in that regard Luke 21. 36. The Cenâ—inâ—l with Men is in the Front of Danger from an Enemy but Christ bids save the Watchman as having delivered his own soul at least Ezek. 33. 9. Yea Christ will not Come as an Adversary upon Watchers who onely threatens his Coming as a Thief in case men do not watch Rev. 3. 3 nor could the Devil much infest us if we did Fire at him when he first appeareth Jam. 4. 7. However watchers are best able to defend themselves whilest sleeping Crocodiles are apt to be destroyed by an Egyptian Rat. Next unto Death Sleep is the greatest Leteller or that which maketh All to be Alike Yea waking Infants are more self relieving than a slumbring Giant If some had not been fast Asleep the Enemy had not sown his Tares Mat. 13. 25 nor had she lost her Living Child 1 King 3. 20. nor Sisera his Life Judg. 4. 21 nor Sampson both his Hair and Eyes Judg. 16. 19. 21 nor would the good man's House be Broken through if he had watched Luke 12. 39. 6. Such will be in the best Capacity to entertain whatever may befall in way of Tryal Sleep maketh Tender but Watchers are more Hardy and Holiest ones have alway been the bravest sufferers A waiting servant well Employ'd cares not how soon his Master cometh but Ecchoeth presently unto his Knock. Such are Aware of what is coming and being Provided for Tribulations that sort of Guests are not so troublesome as if they had been unexpected Christ dreaded not the Devils coming because he could find Nothing in him for he had been Obedient Joh. 14. 30 31 and he whose Course is finished in such a way need not be frighted with the News of his Depaiture 2 Tim. 4. 6 7. None know's how soon that Day may come Zech. 14. 2. and Then wo be to spiritual sleepers who possibly may be Awakened with a Sword or Pistoll and be run through before they can Repent However we daily hear of some or other struck with suddain Death whose Case may be our Own and Blessed then is he that watcheth and is Ready I shall conclude this Exhortation to be Watchfull with some few Helps which are as followeth Helps 1. Let us be throughly Wakened out of a Present Sleep 't is but a folly else to talk of future Watching Sleep in a Moral sence is called Death Eph. 5. 14. and Watching is an Act of one Alive till Men be therefore Quickned by Awaking they cannot mind this work of Watching Such also must be throughly wakened else will they quickly sleep again when once the startling Rouzer is withdrawn Mat. 26. 13. Now all will readily confess their having been Asleep of Later Times But if they be more sleightily Awakened they will soon Nod again Overly Convictions and Gentle self-reprovingâ— are wont to end in sad Relapses nor is he to be Trusted for the Future who is not deeply sensible of former Failings Men un-convinced cannot watch because they are Asleep And Men not duly Humbled for their sin will sleep again because They are not Throughly wakened Make your awakening sure one way or other as you would not be over-taken with a Second Sleep 2. Take heed of being Alone in way of sinful Choice which is a wosul Disadvantage Eccl. 4. 10. but get into some kind of Body and which is Competible unto scattered ones Dispersed ones cannot be in an Instituted Body strictly taken but such may be Together as those Disciples were before the Spirits pouring out Luke 24. 33. and which is an Awakening Help Such may Pray each with other as They did Acts 1. 14. if Prayer be not some way hindred 1 Pet. 3. 7. and Prayer is an Awakening Exercise which therefore is oft joyned with VVatching 1 Pet. 4. 7. Luke 21. 36. Col. 4. 2. Eph. 6. 18. Such also may speak oft one to another as Mal. 3. 16. and by that means may keep each other waking Yea where that Body is there will the Eagles be in way of Feeding Luke 17. 37. and seldom do Men sleep whilst they are Eating Nay Fellow-Captives may watch over one another as Ezekiel did though in a Larger sence Ezek. 33. 7. and Exercise some kind of Common Censures which needs must be Awakening 3. Make Choice of your Companions though else had one better be Alone since sleep is as Infectious as the Plague and in a Spiritual sence more Dangerous In case Two lie Together they have Heat Eccl. 4. 11. supposing them both to be Alive but else a dead Log in Bed is not so Cold as a Dead Body is I am perswaded some