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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

the Parable of the Talents To provoke all to a faithful improving of all the gifts and graces committed to their trust by their great Lord and Master that when he comes again to call all his Servants to account we may receive the reward and enter into the joy of our Lord. For the third and last part concerning the eternal judgment a Subject of all other most necessary When there shall be a final determination of all mens estates for ever according to the Scriptures But not to prevent what is more copiously discoursed of by the Author himself in all these particulars in this Treatise For the manner of handling these Subjects I dare promise thee if thou beest one that hath any relish of the most important truths contained in the Holy Scriptures that thou wilt find a Savour running through the whole discourse as one that felt what he first spoke and afterwards committed unto writing for thy souls good and profit and indeed they are the fittest persons to treat of such Subjects as these are To conclude The Author hath no other designe and end of writing this but thy spiritual edification and advantage That thou maist prove a wise Virgin and so improve thy Talents that thou maist stand in the judgment Which is also the sincere and hearty desire of John Gosnold A Table of the Principal matters contained in this Book PRedictions of Christs certain and second coming calling upon Christians to be strict and constant in self-examination after their inward and Spiritual estate before it be too late from the consideration of their Lords near approach pag. 1. The explication of the ten Virgins and of the Kingdom of Heaven pag. 2 3 4. Signs of Christs near approach with distinguishing Marks of the right Virgins Shewing also how the Church on earth resembles the state of glory in four particulars pag. 5 6 7. That none goeth to meet Christ without the Lamp of profession nor Oyl without Lamps and yet there may be Lamps without Oyl pag. 8 9 10 11. Vast numbers of professors may wait for Christs coming in six particulars and yet deceive themselves pag. 12 13. How to know you are not of this number by six Marks pag. 13 14. A description betwixt wise and unwise Virgins in many particulars pag. 15 16 17. Use of Tryal in four particulars as evidences of the truth of Christianity pag. 24. In the marriage of a true Virgin to Christ are six blessed priviledges pag. 27 28 29 30. Who may comfortably hope for this day resolved in six particulars pag. 31 32 33. That a little before Christs second coming the sin of slumbering and sleeping will be very prevalent among professors with several signes of this dreadful state pag. 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47. Ten awakening considerations to prevent or rowse from this slumbring estate pag. 48. Christs second coming remarkable under five circumstances pag. 49 50 51. Seven remarkable passages relating to the two sorts of Virgins with the blessed advantage of the wise and dreadful disappointment of the foolish pag. 59 60 61 62 c. What it is to buy oyl and that a Market price is to be given for it pag. 80 81. Christ Jesus requires all that look for glory hereafter from him shall now make ready for him shewing also what it is to be ready pag. 85 86 c. The earnest petition of the foolish Virgins under five heads that Jesus would open the door for them yet fruitless because too late pag. 90 91. c. Reasons of Christs rejection of persons from glory at the last day pag. 97. Six marks to know when we savingly know Jesus Christ pag. 98. The great duty of watchfulness enjoyned from the certainty and suddenness of Christs approaching under five head● pag. 99 100. c. The Parable of the Talents explained pag. 109. c. Rules for a right improvement of our Talents to Gods glory and our own and others good pag. 128. 129. Great advantage attends the well improving Talents pag. 162 163 c. The plea of the slothful in hiding his Talent and the Lord● ill resentment of it and proceeding thereupon pag. 170 171 172. c. A description of usury what it is when biting pag. 184 185 186 187. Five marks to know a slothful person with eight arguments against the sin of slothfulness with account of Christs severe punishment inflcted upon such being attended with a double punishment pag. 191 192. c. What taking aw●y the Talent meaneth and that the consequence is utter and a revokable darkness where shall be nothing but wailing and gnashing of teeth and that this taking away of the slothful Servants Talent takes place at Christs personal coming pag. 191 194 195. That Industry in spirituals shall produce abundance of increase pag. 204 205. That there will not be the least dram of favour in Christs face to slothful persons at the day of account pag. 206. Christ Jesus compared to a Shepherd his people to Sheep but the wicked to Wolves Lions Dogs pag. 208. The dreadful Sentence denounced against those on Christs left hand into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels pag. 229 230. c. Hell fire differs from all other fire in six circumstances pag. 241 242. Not only the profane but very many among professors will be cast into this torment for four reasons pag. 246. Torment certain and terrible easie to fall into it difficult to escape it and impossible without cutting off and plucking out a right hand or eye or foot pag. 246 247. That the pains and punishments of unbelievers is endless a worm that never dies a fire that never goes out pag. 249 250. c. Christs Kingdom will be upon earth four rules to help Christians to walk worthy of it pag. 241 242 243. Christs high estimation of such acts of Charity as are in singleness of heart shewed to his suffering members he takes them as done to himself pag. 246 247. God will reward men more or less proportionable to their work in the great day and yet the reward of grace not of debt pag. 253 254. Mercy Charity and Alms extended to Christs true Brethren here on earth is above all services acceptable to God and brings in great profit to persons at Christs appearance works of Charity above all other works being called good works proved by six Arguments pag. 255 256 257. Rules for the right distribution of our Charity in ten particulars pag. 258 259. As a spur to good works have an eye to Gods reward pag. 251 252. We must not measure Gods love to us by his outward dealings with us want may be good for them that fear God pag. 253 254. The truly gracious have a low esteem of their best performances to Christ in point of acceptance to salvation pag. 255 256 257. Two Emminent reasons why righteous persons have so low an esteem of their best duties of obedience pag. 258 259. Jesus Christ is

thou speak when if thou dost not speak for God and truth none else will It was a proverbal speech amongst the Hebrews Where there is not a man there be thou a man which may be applied to this case when truth will suffer if they be silent be sure thou speak Secondly When thou openest thy mouth to speak speak from the honesty and sincerity of thy heart not from the height of thy Spirit not out of pride and vain glory but from these ends First To instruct the ignorant Secondly To reduce those that are out of the way Thirdly To feed those that are hungry Fourthly To strengthen those that are weak Fifthly To confirm those that are feeble and doubting Sixthly To comfort those that are sorrowful Seventhly To incourage those that are fearful Eighthly To provoke those that are slothful Ninthly In all to gods Glory When these are thy ends in speaking or any one of these it is a sign of an honest heart There are grounds that commonly hinder Persons improving this Talent First Slothfulness and idleness not willing to trouble themselves Secondly Bashfulness shamefacedness want of heart and courage this is as bad as being too forward Thirdly Some out of fear lest they should bring themselves into trouble or procure ill will to themselves from others David was of another mind Psal 34.11 also Psal 66.16 He will teach and tell what God hath done for his soul St. Paul was one that declared the whole Counsel of God not fearing what might follow so did St. Peter and St. John Act. 4. We cannot but speak what we have seen and heard for we were not born for our selves or intrusted with life for our selves Rom. 14.7 no man liveth to himself If any of us be instructed with knowledg in the truths of Christ we are intrusted with a Talent and the Master expects the improvement that he may receive his own with usury A second Talent to be improved is Riches with them we are to trade for Heaven a Servant of Christ trades in charity and alms Charity to the Poor is fraighting your Ship to Sea a long Voyage for great advantage Solomen calls this casting thy Bread upon the Waters Eccl. 11.1 2. Cast thy bread upon the face of the waters and after many days thou shalt find it and that to great advantage which he expounds ver 2. to be giving a Portion to seven and eight The Merchant casts his estate upon the face of the Waters this is the trade that our Lord adviseth to under the Parable of the unjust Steward Luk. 16. So doth the Apostle St. Paul 1 Tim. 6.17 it is a trade that brings certain and large profit Thirdly Suffering for Christ and his truth is a Talent that some are called to trade in and Christs chiefest Servants have a Talent given them in this kind Phil. 1.29 To you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe but to suffer for his sake it is given to you and he that gives expects improvement of this gift and not to hide it for fear These three are the stable Commodities that Christs Servants venture in and they all turn to a rich account which brings me to the second Doctrine which was this 2 Doct. That this Trade for Christ well managed turneth to great profit and advantage to Master and Servant This Doctrine I only make use of as a Motive to the former in handling this Doctrine I shall First Prove the Doctrine Secondly Instance in particulars Thirdly Answer a Question as to the time of this return Fourthly Apply the whole First For proof we have it set forth in this Parable Five Talents make Ten according to Luk. 19. One Pound makes Ten. What Solomon saith Prov. 3. is true The Merchandise hereof is better than the Merchandise of Silver or Gold that is so say in the increase of it What St. Paul saith to Timethy Tim. 4.8 is true here Godliness is great gain Secondly To instance in particulars First Improving the Talent of knowledge in Ministring light in order to Conversion Dan. 12.2 Such shall shine as Stars for ever and ever Pro. 11.30 He that winneth Souls is wise and the wise shall inherit Glory Prov. 3.35 Those that St. Paul converted are his Joy and Crown at Christs appearing 1 Thess 2.19 Secondly As to Charity a Cup of cold Water where no better is to be ●ad shall have a large reward any thing forsaken for Christ shall bring in a hundred fold I have spoken to this before Thirdly As to sufferings for Christ those that suffer with him shall reign Rev. 7. therefore are they before the Throne because they came out of great tribulations These three ventures makes great returns if rightly managed to a right end with a good design Thirdly But when is this return and increase I answer When the Voyage is made when Christ the Master comes at the Resurrection of the Just those that trade this way must trust till then and all Christs Servants have good Insurance on Gods side the reward is very sure some are apt to look for their returns too soon and to have lost all have a care of that He that believeth makes not haste I shall speak a few words briefly by way of Application to both parties Are all Christs faithful Servants Traders and is it a distinguishing Character between the faithful and slothful that the good Servant traded he went and traded 1 Use Then these considerations should put Christians upon examination and inquity into their estate Ask thy soul seriously this Question What trade dost thou drive and to what port dost thou trade to the Port of Heaven or Hell the Apostle in other words speaks the same thing Gal. 6.7 Whatever a Man sow that shall he also reap he that sow● to the flesh and he that sows to the Spirit reaps accordingly whither dost thou trade dost thou trade for Heaven Then First Thou hast thy heart concerned in the trade and not only thy hands and body it takes up thy heart Where thy treasure is saith Christ thy heart will be also those that trade this way are men of judgment and understanding in what they do it is the fruit of wildom to consider our latter end Deut. 32.29 Psal 90. and to provide for it Secondly Dost thou trade this way thou dost not think what thou venturest in this trade is lost because it is out of sight but he goeth on comfortably and believingly though the greatest part of his estate is beyond the grave The Apostle St. Paul was a worthy Merchant for Heaven do but read his frame of Spirit 2 Cor. 4 5. he speaks like a man of grea● estate though most of it ventured out but in Chap. 5. v. 7● We walk by faith and not by sight so Phil. 3. last These Me●chants are high in their Spirits though low in their Purse● they are Persons of great hope Rom. 12.12 Rejoyce in hope it is the true nature

people 1 Cor. 29.14 All things 〈◊〉 of thee and of thine own have we given thee And whereas many are apt to Judg that this Pa● doth incourage man to trust to his own righteouness I Answer That our own righteousness must su●pose a righteousness without faith or distinct 〈◊〉 faith and that trusted in without an eye to Christ and his righteousness but know this that there in righteousness called the Righteousness of Saints and this Righteousness of Saints upon true and right beses hath an honourable esteem with Christ Rev. 19.8 the white linnen is the righteousness of Saints and John saith he that doth righteousness is righteous ● he is righteous Now because this part seems to border upon the former I shall leave but a brief word of application unto it and that is this That God 〈◊〉 no respecter of persons according to Acts 19.35 that is a certain truth which we ought to receive Now herein doth God clear himself from respect of persons in that he doth dispense to each person according to his works Part. 2. From hence we may take great incouragement to righteousness and holiness Study what St. Paul speaks 1 Cor. 15.58 Your labour is not is vain in the Lord. Part. 3. The Consideration of this part may be 〈◊〉 means to caution persons against sin because thou shalt be certain to receive according to thy works Part. 4. And the main is drawn from the reason ●here given by Christ which doth center in Charity the Part was this That Mercy Charity and Almes extended to Christs true brethren whilst here on earth is above all services acceptable to God and brings in greatest profit to a person at Christs appearance these services of Charity are superintendent above all other services whatsoever in Christians This part is sounded upon 3 Circumstances in this Text First we have the grac● of Charity only made mention of by Christ at this day therefore it must needs be mighty acceptable to him Secondly we have Christs favourable aspect and amicable Countenance on these thereupon Thirdly The Kingdom is received upon this very ground Almes and Charity Distribution to the poor is compared to Sowing 2 Cor. 9. which doth naturally produce increase it is a casting seed into the earth or as Solomon upon the waters In handling this part I shall speak to these five heads a few words First prove the Point in both parts the acceptance to God and profit to our selves Secondly shew the nature and root of our Alms and Charity in order to this end Thirdly offer some Scripture-Reasons why it is so Fourthly speak something to the Subjects of our Charity Fifthly make some use of the whole 1. That Charity is so acceptable to God when rightly performed See James 28. this is Called pure religion and undefiled before God or in his right this is pure Religion or the highest Re●●gion 2. This is Called good Works Works of Cha●● above all works are Called good Works they most 〈◊〉 all resemble God who is good to all That they a●● called good works see Acts 9.16 spoken of Dorc● who the text saith was full of good works 1 Tim● But which becomes women professing Godliness 〈◊〉 good works Heb. 13. But to do good and to distribute forget not for with such sacrifices God is 〈◊〉 pleased 3. The person found in the services is in Scripture called a good person Psal 112. a good man he 〈◊〉 called that is found in it 4. This service is very acceptable from those imp●tations put upon it see Luke 11.41 But rather give almes of such things as you have and behold all thing are clean unto you It appears to be of a cleaning nature Moreover it bespeaks God to be his friend it is a pregnant place which we have Luke 16.9 Maks to your selves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness it makes God thy friend after death if it be performed from a right root 5 It appears to be acceptable in that the Lord bears those works in mind Heb. 6. God is not forgetful of your work and labour of Love shewed to his name is that you have ministred to the Saints and do Minister 6. These services appear to be an acceptable service to God because he doth declare that he loves a cheerful giver 2 Cor. 9. It is said of Cornelius that his prayers and his almes were come up in remembrance before God Acts 10. We have an eminent place Phil. 4.18 but I have all abound and I am full having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you an Odour of a sweet smell a Sacrifice acceptable well pleasing to God 2ly Charity is not only pleasing to God but it is profitable to our selves 1. Here 2. Hereafter at Christ's coming 1. It is profitable here many Mercies are promised here See the singular favour shewed from God to Abimelech Jer. 39.17 18. foreshewing favour to Jeremiah when he was in the Dungeon he shall be delivered in the day of God's judgments for that reason So we have it Psal 41. He that remembreth the poor shall have many Mercies in this life preservation in sickness and deliverance from death strengthning upon the bed of languishing God will make all his bed in his sickness If these be the Qualifications God will not deliver him to the will of his enemies Oh the many merciful Promises a charitable person is under at present therefore saith Solomon Eccl. 11.2 Give a portion to seven and to eight for thou knowest not what evil shall be in the Earth that is to say that so thou mayest have mercy in an evil day See what a special present priviledg belongs to such Psal 112. Such a one shall not be afraid of evil tidings these Mercies he shall receive from God as tokens of his acceptance he shall procure the love and esteem of Men at present Oh how is a charitable person in the affections of persons the Apostle saith Rom. 5. That for a good man some would even dare to dye that is a charitable man he is so in the affections of men These are Priviledges here But 2ly Hereafter it is profitable according to our Text there is a profit Eccles 11.1 After many dayes thou shalt find it that is afte● this life these in the Text and Parable after many dayes shall find Psal 112. Such a one as hath dispersed to the poor his righteousness endures for ever Matth. 6. God shall reward him openly Luke 12.33 Sell the you have and give Alms provide your selves Bagg● which wax not old Treasures in Heaven that 〈◊〉 not where no thief approacheth nor moth corrupteth 2. Cor. 9.6 But this I say he which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly and he that soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 1 Tim. 6.17 18 19. charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy that they do good that