THEN fhall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto Ten Virgins, which took their Lamps, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom, Mat. xxv. 1. Every Christian makes Profeffion of aspiring to the Marriage of the Lamb; his Life is a continual Preparation for the Marriage Supper of Eternity. His Heart is his Lamp. By the Motions and Defires of his Soul, he goes forth to meet the Bridegroom, and haftens towards Heaven by the Purity of his Life. I will hearken what my Lord Speak it to my Soul, that I May in Thee have Peace and Pow'r, AND ND five of them were wife, and five were foolish, Matt. XXV. 2. The Church of Jefus Chrift, before fhe arrives at the Place where this Marriage is confummated, which is Heaven, is always divided, always mixed with good and bad. --- It is the greatest of all Follies to make Profeffion of our Defire of attaining to eternal Life, and to neglect to prepare ourselves for it during the whole Course of our Lives. True Wisdom confifts in being always ready, and in living in continual Expectation of the Bridegroom's Coming. O Lord, whate'er is felt or fear'd, In Pains and Dangers Thou art nigh, Its various Weakness knows. We tend to Realms of Peace, And every Frailty cease. THEY that were foolish took their Lamps, and took no Oil with them, Mat. xxv. 3. Love and its Works are the Oil of the Heart. A Heart without Love is a Lamp without Oil! --- O inconceivable Folly of the Children of Adam! to employ their whole Lives in filling their Hearts with every Thing befides, and to forget That, which alone can fill, nourish, and make them fhine before God, and even enjoy God himself for ever. Empty the Lamp, till Thou impart Be Thou my Counsellor, Now, Saviour, pour into my Heart O let my Feet BUT UT the Wife took Oil in their Veffels with their Lamps. Mat. xxv. 4. The greatest Wisdom confifts in having Love, and in performing the Works of it. Life is given us to no other End, but that we may make a fufficient Provifion of this Oil. --- God alone can pour it into our Hearts by his Spirit; and this Spirit is itself that Oil of Gladness, with which the Life of our Souls must be fed to all Eternity. Jefus Chrift alone has the Fulnefs of it, and of this Fulness must all his Members receive. Lord, as thou haft bestowed on me a Lamp, leave it not empty, but replenish it out of thy abundant Fulness. But wifer fome that Oil receiv'd, Truth in the inward Parts, So may I, Lord, my Lamp prepare WHILE the Bridegroom tarried, they all flumbered and slept, Mat. xxv. 5. How few are there, who think seriously of Death and Judgement, and expect the Bridegroom with a perfevering Vigilance! --- The Beginnings of Converfion are fervent: but Zeal infenfibly grows cool in the Generality of Perfons. --- There is need of an extraordinary Grace, to enable us to continue this perfect Vigilance to the End, fo as not to be surprised at the Hour of Death. Lord, who keepeft Ifrael, the Heart I mean, which thou haft made the Ifrael of God, do thou neither flumber, nor fleep over me. Now let my Soul arife, And tread the Tempter down, My Captain leads me forth K A feeble Saint Shall win the Day, |