The wise and foolish Virgins.
MATTHEW xxv. 13.
_Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour in
which the Son of man cometh._
THE apostle _Paul_, in his epistle to the _Hebrews_, informs us, “That
it is appointed for all men once to die; after that is the judgment.”
And I think, if any consideration be sufficient to awaken a sleeping
drowsy world, it must be this, That there will be a day wherein these
heavens shall be wrapt up like a scroll, this element melt with fervent
heat, the earth and all things therein be burnt up, and every soul,
of every nation and language, summoned to appear before the dreadful
tribunal of the righteous Judge of quick and dead, to receive rewards
and punishments, according to the deeds done in their bodies. The great
apostle just mentioned, when brought before _Felix_, could think of no
better means to convert that sinful man, than to reason of temperance,
righteousness, and more especially of a judgment to come. The first
might in some measure affect, but, I am persuaded, it was the last
consideration, a judgment to come, that made him to tremble: and so
bad as the world is now grown, yet there are few have their consciences
so far seared, as to deny that there will be a reckoning hereafter.
The promiscuous dispensations of providence in this life, wherein we
see good men afflicted, destitute, tormented, and the wicked permitted
triumphantly to ride over their heads, has been always looked upon
as an indisputable argument, by the generality of men, that there
will be a day in which GOD will judge the world in righteousness, and
administer equity unto his people. Some indeed are so bold as to deny
it, while they are engaged in the pursuit of the lust of the eye, and
the pride of life. But follow them to their death-beds, ask them, when
their souls are ready to launch into eternity, what they then think of
a judgment to come? and they will tell you, they dare not give their
consciences the lie any longer. They feel a fearful looking for of
judgment and fiery indignation in their hearts. Since then these things
are so, does it not highly concern each of us, my brethren, before we
come on a bed of sickness, seriously to examine how the account stands
between GOD and our souls, and how it will fare with us in that day? As
for the openly prophane, the drunkard, the whoremonger, the adulterer,
and such-like, there is no doubt of what will become of them; without
repentance they shall never enter into the kingdom of GOD and his
CHRIST: no; their damnation slumbereth not; a burning fiery _Tophet_,
kindled by the fury of GOD’s eternal wrath, is prepared for their
reception, wherein they must suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. Nor
is there the least doubt of the state of true believers. For though
they are despised and rejected of natural men, yet being born again of
GOD, they are heirs of GOD, and joint heirs with CHRIST. They have the
earnest of the promised inheritance in their hearts, and are assured,
that a new and living way is made open for them, into the holy of
holies, by the blood of JESUS CHRIST, into which an abundant entrance
shall be administered to them at the great day of account. The only
question is, what will become of the _almost Christian_, one that
is content to go, as he thinks, in a middle way to heaven, without
being prophane on the one hand, or, as he falsly imagines, righteous
over-much on the other? Many there are in every congregation, and
consequently some here present, of this stamp. And what is worst of
all, it is more easy to convince the most notorious publicans and
sinners of their being out of a state of salvation, than any of these.
Notwithstanding, if JESUS CHRIST may be our judge, they shall as
certainly be rejected and disowned by him at the last day, as though
they lived in open defiance of all his laws. For what says our LORD in
the parable of which the words of the text are a conclusion, and which
I intend to make the subject of my present discourse. “Then,” at the
day of judgment, which he had been discoursing of in the foregoing, and
prosecutes in this chapter, “shall the kingdom of heaven, (the state of
professors in the gospel church) be likened unto ten virgins, who took
their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” In which words,
is a manifest allusion to a custom prevailing in our LORD’s time among
the _Jews_ at marriage solemnities, which were generally at night, and
at which it was customary for the persons of the bride-chamber to go
out in procession, with many lights, to meet the bridegroom. By the
_bridegroom_, you are here to understand JESUS CHRIST. The church, i. e.
true believers, are his _spouse_; he is united to them by one spirit,
even in this life; but the solemnizing of these sacred nuptials, is
reserved till the day of judgment, when he shall come to take them home
to himself, and present them before men and angels, as his purchase,
to his Father, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. By the ten
virgins we are to understand, the professors of christianity in general.
All are called virgins, because all are called to be saints. Whosoever
names the name of CHRIST, is obliged by that very profession to depart
from all iniquity. But the pure and chaste in heart, are the only
persons that will be so blessed as to see GOD. As CHRIST was born of
a virgin, so he can dwell in none but virgin souls, made pure and holy
by the cohabitation of his holy Spirit. What says the apostle? “All are
not _Israelites_ that are of _Israel_,” all are not christians that are
called after the name of CHRIST: No, says our LORD, in the 2d verse,
“Five of those virgins were wise,” true believers, “and five were
foolish,” formal hypocrites. But why are five said to be wise, and the
other five foolish? Hear what our LORD says in the following verses;
“They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.” They that
were foolish took their lamps of an outward profession. They would
go to church, say over several manuals of prayers, come perhaps
into a field to hear a sermon, give at a collection, and receive the
sacrament constantly, nay, oftner than once a month. But then here lay
the mistake; they had no oil in their lamps, no principle of grace, no
living faith in their hearts, without which, though we should give all
our goods to feed the poor, and our bodies to be burnt, it would profit
us nothing. In short, they were exact, nay, perhaps superstitious
bigots as to the form, but all the while they were strangers to, and,
in effect, denied the power of godliness in their hearts. They would go
to church, but at the same time, think it no harm to go to a ball or an
assembly, notwithstanding they promised at their baptism, to renounce
the pomps and vanities of this wicked world. They were so exceedingly
fearful of being righteous over-much, that they would even persecute
those that were truly devout, if they attempted to go a step farther
than themselves. In one word, they never effectually felt the power
of the world to come. They thought they might be christians without
so much inward feeling, and therefore, notwithstanding their high
pretensions, had only a name to live.
And now, Sirs, let me pause a while, and in the name of GOD, whom I
endeavour to serve in the gospel of his dear Son, give me leave to ask
one question. Whilst I have been drawing, though in miniature, the
character of these foolish virgins, have not many of your consciences
made the application, and with a small, still, though articulate voice,
said, Thou man, thou woman, art one of those foolish virgins, for thy
sentiments and practice agree thereto? Stifle not, but rather encourage
these convictions; and who knows, but that ♦the LORD who is rich in
mercy to all that call upon him faithfully, may so work upon you even
by this foolishness of preaching, as to make you wise virgins before
you return home?
♦ insert missing word “the”
What they were you shall know immediately: “But the wise took oil in
their vessels with their lamps.” Observe, the wise, the true believers,
had their lamps as well as the foolish virgins; for christianity does
not require us to cast off all outward forms; we may use forms, and
yet not be formal: for instance, it is possible to worship GOD in a
set form of prayer, and yet worship him in spirit and in truth. And
therefore, brethren, let us not judge one another. The wise virgins
had their lamps; herein did not lie the difference between them and the
foolish, that one worshipped GOD with a form, and the other did not: No:
as the Pharisee and Publican went up to the temple to pray, so these
wise and foolish virgins might go to the same place of worship, and sit
under the same ministry; but then the wise took oil in their vessels
with their lamps; they kept up the form, but did not rest in it;
their words in prayer were the language of their hearts, and they were
no strangers to inward feelings; they were not afraid of searching
doctrines, nor affronted when ministers told them they deserved
to be damned; they were not self-righteous, but were willing that
JESUS CHRIST should have all the glory of their salvation; they were
convinced that the merits of JESUS CHRIST were to be apprehended only
by faith; but yet were they as careful to maintain good works, as
though they were to be justified by them: in short, their obedience
flowed from love and gratitude, and was chearful, constant, uniform,
universal, like that obedience which the holy angels pay our Father in
heaven.
Here then let me exhort you to pause again; and if any of you can
faithfully apply these characters to your hearts, give GOD the glory,
and take the comfort to your own souls; you are not false but true
believers. JESUS CHRIST has been made of GOD to you wisdom, even that
wisdom, whereby you shall be made wise unto salvation. GOD sees a
difference between you and foolish virgins, if natural men will not.
You need not be uneasy, though one chance and fate in this life may
happen to you both. I say, one chance and fate; for, verse 5. “while
the bridegroom tarried,” in the space of time which passed between our
LORD’s ascension and his coming again to judgment, “they all slumbered
and slept.” The wise as well as foolish died, for dust we are, and
to dust we must return. It is no reflection at all upon the divine
goodness, that believers, as well as hypocrites, must pass through
the valley of the shadow of death; for CHRIST has taken away the sting
of death, so that we need fear no evil. It is to them a passage to
everlasting life: death is only terrible to those who have no hope,
because they live without faith in the world. Whosoever there are
amongst you, that have received the first-fruits of the spirit, I am
persuaded you are ready to cry out, we would not live here always,
we long to be dissolved, that we may be with JESUS CHRIST; and though
worms must destroy our bodies as well as others, yet we are content,
being assured that our Redeemer liveth, that he will stand at the
latter days upon the earth, and that in our flesh we shall see GOD.
But it is not so with hypocrites and unbelievers beyond the grave; for
what says our LORD? “And at midnight:” observe, at midnight, when all
was hushed and quiet, and no one dreaming of any such thing, “a cry
was made;” the voice of the arch-angel and the trump of GOD was heard
sounding this general alarm; to things in heaven, to things in earth,
and to things in the waters under the earth, “BEHOLD!” mark how this
awful summons is ushered in with the word _behold_, to engage our
attention? “Behold the bridegroom cometh!” even JESUS CHRIST, the
desire of nations, the bridegroom of his spouse the church: Because he
tarried for a while to exercise the faith of saints, and give sinners
space to repent, scoffers were apt to cry out, “Where is the promise of
his coming? But the LORD is not slack concerning his promise, as these
men account slackness.” For behold, he that was to come, now cometh,
and will not tarry any longer: he cometh to be glorified in his saints,
and to take vengeance on them that know not GOD, and have not obeyed
his gospel: he cometh not as a poor despised _Galilean_; not to be
laid in a stinking manger; not to be despised and rejected of men;
not to be blindfolded, spit upon, and buffeted; not to be nailed to an
accursed tree; he cometh not as the Son of man, but as he really was,
the eternal Son of the eternal GOD: He cometh riding on the wings of
the wind, in the glory of the Father and his holy angels, and to be had
in everlasting reverence of all that shall be round about him. “Go ye
forth to meet him;” arise, ye dead, ye foolish, as well as wise virgin,
arise and come to judgment. Multitudes, no doubt, that hear this
awakening cry, would rejoice if the rocks might fall on, and the hills
cover them from the presence of the Lamb: what would they give, if as
they lived as beasts, they might now die like the beasts that perish?
How would they rejoice, if those same excuses which they made on this
side eternity for not attending on holy ordinances, would serve to
keep them from appearing before the heavenly bridegroom! But as _Adam_,
notwithstanding his fig-leaves, and the trees of the garden, could
not hide himself from GOD, when arrested with an “_Adam_, where art
thou?” So now the decree is gone forth, and the trump of GOD has given
its last sound; all tongues, people, nations, and languages, both wise
and foolish virgins, must come into his presence, and bow beneath his
footstool; even _Pontius Pilate_, _Annas_ and _Caiaphas_; even the
proud persecuting high-priests and Pharisees of this generation, must
appear before him: for says our LORD, “then, (when the cry was made,
Behold, the bridegroom cometh!) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye,
the graves were opened, the sea gave up its dead, and all those virgins,
both wise and foolish, arose and trimmed their lamps,” or endeavoured
to put themselves in a proper posture to meet the bridegroom.
But how may we imagine the foolish virgins were surprized, when,
notwithstanding their high thoughts and proud imaginations of their
security, they now find themselves wholly naked, and void of that
inward holiness and purity of heart, without which no man living at
that day shall comfortably meet the LORD! I doubt not, but many of
these foolish virgins, whilst in this world, were cloathed in purple
and fine linnen, fared sumptuously every day, and disdained to set the
wise virgins, some of whom might be as poor as _Lazarus_, even with
the dogs of their flock. These were looked upon by them as enthusiasts
and madmen, as persons that were righteous over-much, and who intended
to turn the world upside down: but now death hath opened their eyes,
and convinced them, to their eternal sorrow, that he is not a true
christian, who is only one outwardly. Now they find (though, alas! too
late) they, and not the wise virgins, had been beside themselves. Now
their proud hearts are made to stoop, their lofty looks are brought low;
and as _Dives_ entreated that _Lazarus_ might dip the tip of his finger
in water, and be sent to cool his tongue, so these foolish virgins,
these formal hypocrites, are obliged to turn beggars to those whom they
once despised: “Give us of your oil;” O! impart to us a little of that
grace and holy spirit, for the insisting on which we fools accounted
your lives madness; for alas! “our lamps are gone out;” we had only the
form of godliness; we were whited sepulchres; we were heart-hypocrites;
we contented ourselves with desiring to be good; and though confident
of salvation whilst we lived, yet our hope is entirely gone, now GOD
has taken away our souls: Give us therefore, O! give us, though we
once despised you, give us of your oil, for our lamps of an outward
profession, and transient convictions, are quite gone out. “Comfort
ye, comfort ye, my people, saith the LORD.” My brethren in CHRIST,
hear what the foolish say to the wise virgins, and learn in patience to
possess your souls. If you are true followers of the lowly JESUS, I am
persuaded you have your names cast out, and all manner of evil spoken
falsly against you, for his name’s sake; for no one ever did or will
live godly in CHRIST JESUS, without suffering persecution; nay, I doubt
not but your chief foes are those of your own houshold: tell me, do not
your carnal relations and friends vex your tender souls day by day, in
bidding you spare yourselves, and take heed lest you go too far: And as
you passed along to come and hear the word of GOD, have you not heard
many a Pharisee cry out, Here comes another troop of his followers!
Brethren, be not surprized, CHRIST’s servants were always the world’s
fools; you know it hated him before it hated you. Rejoice and be
exceeding glad. Yet a little while, and behold the bridegroom cometh,
and then shall you hear these formal scoffing Pharisees saying unto you,
“Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.” When you are reviled,
revile not again: when you suffer, threaten not; commit your souls into
the hands of him that judgeth righteously: for behold the day cometh,
when the children of GOD shall speak for themselves.
The wise virgins, in the parable, no doubt endured the same cruel
mockings as you may do; but as the lamb before the shearers is dumb,
so in this life opened they not their mouths; but now we find they can
give their enemies an answer: “Not so, lest there be not enough for us
and you; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.”
These words are not to be understood as though they were spoken in
an insulting manner; for true charity teaches us to use the worst of
sinners, and our most bitter enemies, with the meekness and gentleness
of CHRIST: Though _Dives_ was in hell, yet _Abraham_ does not say, Thou
villain, but only, “Son, remember:” and I am persuaded, had it been in
the power of these wise virgins, they would have dealt with the foolish
virgins, as, GOD knows, I would willingly deal with my most inveterate
enemies, not only give them of their oil, but also exalt them to the
right hand of GOD. It was not then for want of love, but the fear of
wanting a sufficiency for themselves, that made them return this answer,
“Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you:” for they that have
most grace, have none to spare; none but self-righteous, foolish
virgins think they are good enough, or have already attained. Those
who are truly wise are always most distrustful of themselves, pressing
forwards to the things that are before, and think it well if after they
have done all, they can make their calling and election sure. “Not so,
lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that
sell, and buy for yourselves.” These words indeed seem to be spoken in
a triumphant, but certainly they were uttered in the most compassionate
manner; “go ye to them that sell, and buy for yourselves;” unhappy
virgins! you accounted our lives folly; whilst with you in the body,
how often have you condemned us for our zeal in running to hear
the word of GOD, and looked upon us as enthusiasts, for talking and
affirming, that we must be led by the spirit, and walk by the spirit,
and feel the spirit of GOD witnessing with our spirits, that we are his
children? But now you would be glad to be partakers of this privilege,
but it is not ours to give. You contented yourselves with seeking, when
you should have been striving to enter in at the strait gate. And now
go to them that sell, if you can, and buy for yourselves.
And what say you to this, ye foolish formal professors? For I doubt not
but curiosity and novelty hath brought many such, even to this despised
place, to hear a sermon. Can you hear this reply to the foolish virgins,
and yet not tremble? Why, yet a little while, and thus it shall be done
to you. Rejoice and bolster yourselves up in your duties and forms;
endeavour to cover your nakedness with the fig-leaves of an outward
profession and a legal righteousness, and despise the true servants
of CHRIST as much as you please, yet know, that all your hopes will
fail you when GOD brings you into judgment. For not he who commendeth
himself is justified, but he whom the LORD commendeth.
But to return; we do not hear of any reply the foolish virgins make:
No, their consciences condemned them; like the person without a
wedding-garment, they are struck dumb, and are now filled with anxious
thoughts how they shall buy oil, that they may lift up their heads
before the bridegroom. “But whilst they went to buy,” verse 10, whilst
they were thinking what they should do, the bridegroom, the LORD JESUS,
the king, the husband of his spouse the church, cometh, attended with
thousands and twenty times ten thousands of saints and angels, publicly
to count up his jewels; “and they that were ready,” the wise virgins
who had oil in their lamps, and were sealed by his spirit to the
day of redemption, these having on the wedding garment of an imputed
righteousness, and a new nature, “went in with him to the marriage.”
But who can express the transports that these wise virgins felt, when
they were thus admitted, in holy triumph, into the presence and full
enjoyment of him, whom their souls hungred and thirsted after! No doubt
they had tasted of his love, and by faith had often fed on him in their
hearts, when sitting down to commemorate his last supper here on earth;
but how full may we think their hearts and tongues were of his praises,
when they see themselves seated together to eat bread in his heavenly
kingdom. And what was best of all, “the door was shut,” and shut them
in, to enjoy the ever blessed GOD, and the company of angels and the
spirits of just men made perfect, without interruption for evermore.
I say, without interruption; for in this life, their eyes often gushed
out with water, because men kept not GOD’s law; and they could never
come to appear before the LORD, or to hear his word, but Satan and his
emissaries would come also to disturb them; but now “the door is shut,”
now there is a perfect communion of saints, which they in vain longed
for in this lower world; now tares no longer grow up with the wheat;
not one single hypocrite or unbeliever can screen himself amongst them.
“Now the wicked cease from troubling, and now their weary souls enjoy
an everlasting rest.”
Once more, O believers, let me exhort you in patience to possess your
souls. GOD, if he has freely justified you by faith in his son, and
given you his spirit, has sealed you to be his; and has secured you, as
surely as he secured _Noah_, when he locked him in the ark. But though
heirs of GOD, and joint heirs with CHRIST, and neither men nor devils
can pluck you out of your heavenly Father’s hands, yet you must be
tossed about with manifold temptations; however, lift up your heads,
the day of your perfect, compleat redemption draweth nigh. Behold the
bridegroom cometh to take you to himself, the door shall be shut, and
you shall be for ever with the LORD.
But I even tremble to tell you, O nominal christians, that the door
will be shut, I mean the door of mercy, never, never to be opened to
give you admission, though you should continue knocking to all eternity.
For thus speaks our LORD, verse 11. “Afterwards,” after those that were
ready went in, and the door was shut; after they had, to their sorrow,
found that no oil was to be bought, no grace to be procured, “came
also the other virgins;” and as _Esau_, after _Jacob_ had gotten the
blessing, cried with an exceeding bitter cry, “Bless me, even me also,
O my father;” so they came saying, “LORD, LORD, open to us.” Observe
the importunity of these foolish virgins, implied in the words, “LORD,
LORD.” Whilst in the body, I suppose they only read, did not pray over
their prayers. If you now tell them, they should “pray without ceasing,”
they should pray from their hearts, and feel the want of what they
prayed for; they would answer, they could not tell what you mean by
inward feelings; that GOD did not require us to be always on our knees,
but if a man did justly, and loved mercy, and did as the church forms
required him, it was as much as the LORD required at his hands.
I fear, sirs, too many among us are of this mind: nay, I fear there
are many so polite, so void of the love of GOD, as to think it too
great a piece of self-denial, to rise early to offer up a sacrifice of
praise and thanksgiving acceptable to GOD through JESUS CHRIST. If any
such, by the good providence of GOD, are brought hither this morning,
I beseech you to consider your ways, and remember, if you are not
awakened out of your spiritual lethargy, and live a life of prayer here,
you shall but in vain cry out with the foolish virgins, “LORD, LORD,
open unto us,” hereafter. Observe farther, the impudence, as well as
importunity of these other virgins; “LORD, LORD,” say they, as though
they were intimately acquainted with the holy JESUS. Like numbers among
us, who because they go to church, repeat their creeds, and receive the
blessed sacrament, think they have a right to call JESUS their Saviour,
and dare call GOD their Father, when they put up the LORD’s prayer. But
JESUS is not your Saviour. The devil, not GOD, is your father, unless
your hearts are purified by faith, and you are born again from above.
It is not merely being baptized by water, but being born again of the
Holy Ghost that must qualify you for salvation; and it will do you no
service at the great day, to say unto CHRIST, LORD, my name is in the
register of such and such a parish. I am persuaded, the foolish virgins
could say this and more; but what answer did JESUS make? He answered
and said, verse 12. “Verily, I say unto you:” He puts the word VERILY,
to assure them he was in earnest. “I say unto you,” I who am truth
itself, I whom you have owned in words, but in works denied, “verily,
I say unto you, I know you not.” These words must not be understood
literally; for whatever Arians and Socinians may say to the contrary,
yet we affirm, that JESUS CHRIST is GOD, GOD blessed for ever,
and therefore knoweth all things. He saw _Nathaniel_, when under
the fig-tree: he sees, and is now looking down from heaven, his
dwelling-place, upon us, to see how we behave in these fields. Brethren,
I know nothing of the thoughts and intents of your hearts, in coming
hither; but JESUS CHRIST knows who come like new-born babes, desirous
to be fed with the sincere milk of the word; and he knows who came
to hear what the babler says, and to run away with part of a broken
sentence, that they may have whereof to accuse him. This expression
then, “I know you not,” must not be understood literally; no, it
implies a knowledge of approbation, as though CHRIST had said, “You
call me, LORD, LORD, but you have not done the things that I have said;
you desire me to open the door, but how can you come in hither not
having on a wedding garment? Alas, you are naked! Where is my outward
righteousness imputed to you? Where is my inherent righteousness
wrought in you? Where is my divine image stamped upon your souls? How
dare you call me LORD, LORD, when you have not received the Holy Ghost,
whereby I seal all that are truly mine? Verily, I know you not; depart
from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and
his angels.”
And now, he that hath ears to hear, let him hear what manner of persons
these were, whom JESUS CHRIST dismissed with this answer. Remember,
I entreat you, remember they are not sent away for being fornicators,
swearers, sabbath-breakers, or prodigals. No, in all probability, as
I observed before, they were, touching the outward observances of the
moral law, blameless; they were constant as to the form of religion;
and if they did no good, yet no one could say, they did any one any
harm. The only thing for which they were condemned, and eternally
banished from the presence of the LORD, (for so much is implied in “I
know you not”) was this, they had no oil in their lamps, no principle
of a true living faith and holiness in their hearts. And if persons
may go to church, receive the sacrament, lead honest moral lives,
and yet be sent to hell at the last day, as they certainly will be if
they advance no farther, Where wilt thou, O drunkard? Where wilt thou,
O swearer? Where wilt thou, O sabbath-breaker? Where wilt thou that
deniest divine revelation, and even the form of godliness? Where will
you, and such-like sinners appear? I know very well. You must appear
before the dreadful tribunal of JESUS CHRIST: however you may, like
_Felix_, put off the prosecution of your convictions, yet you, as
well as others, must arise after death, and appear in judgment; you
will then find, to your eternal sorrow, what I just hinted at in the
beginning of this discourse, that your damnation slumbereth not: sin
has blinded your hearts, and hardened your foreheads now, but yet a
little while, and our LORD will ease him of his adversaries. Methinks,
by faith, I see the heavens opened, and the holy JESUS coming, with
his face brighter than ten thousand suns, darting fury upon you from
his eyes! Methinks I see you rising from your graves, trembling and
astonished, and crying out, who can abide this day of his coming!
And now what inference shall I draw from what has been delivered? Our
LORD, in the words of the text, has drawn one for me; “Watch therefore,
for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”
“_Watch_;” that is, be upon your guard, and keep your graces in
continual exercise: For as when we are commanded to watch unto prayer,
it signifies that we should continue instant in that duty; so when we
are required to watch in general, it means that we should put on the
whole armour of GOD, and live every day as though it was our last. And
O! that the LORD may now enable me to lift up my voice like a trumpet!
For had I a thousand tongues, or could I speak so loud that the whole
world might hear me, I could not sound a more useful alarm than that
which is contained in the text. WATCH therefore, my brethren, I beseech
you by the mercies of GOD in CHRIST JESUS, watch; be upon your guard;
awake, ye that sleep in the dust: for ye know neither the day nor
the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Perhaps to-day, perhaps this
midnight, the cry may be made: “for in a moment, in the twinkling of
an eye, the trump is to sound.” However, supposing the final day of
judgment may yet be a great way off, the day of death is certainly near
at hand: for what is our life? “It is but a vapour,” but a span long,
soon passeth it away, and we are gone. Blessed be GOD, we are all here
well; but who, out of this great multitude, dares say, I shall go home
to my house in safety? Who knows, but whilst I am speaking, GOD may
commission his ministring spirits immediately to call some of you away
by a sudden stroke, to give an account with what attention you have
heard this sermon. You know, my brethren, some such instances we have
lately had. And what angel or spirit hath assured us, that some of you
shall not be the next? “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day
nor the hour wherein the Son of man will come:” And it is chiefly for
this reason, that GOD has hidden the day of our deaths from us. For
since I know not but I may die to-morrow, why, O my soul, may each
of us say, wilt thou not watch to-day? Since I know not but I may die
the next moment, why wilt thou not prepare for dying this? Many such
reflections as these, my brethren, croud in upon my mind. At present,
blessed be the LORD, who delights to magnify his strength in a poor
worm’s weakness, I am at a stand, not so much about what I shall say,
as what I shall leave unsaid. My belly, like _Elihu_’s, is, as it were,
full of new wines; “out of the abundance of my heart my mouth speaketh.”
The seeing so great a multitude standing before me; a sense of the
infinite majesty of that GOD in whose name I preach, and before whom
I as well as you must appear, to give an account; and the uncertainty
there is whether I shall live another day, to speak to you any more:
these considerations, especially the presence of GOD, which I now
feel upon my soul, furnishes me with so much matter, that I scarce
know where to begin, or where to end my application. However, for
method-sake, by the divine assistance, I will branch it into three
particulars.
And _first_, I would remind you that are notoriously ungodly, of what
our LORD says in the text: For though I have said that your damnation
slumbereth not, whilst you continue in an impenitent state; yet that
was only to set you upon your watch, to convince you of your danger,
and excite you to cry out, “What shall we do to be saved?” I appeal to
all that hear me, whether I have said, the door of mercy should be shut
against you, if you believe on JESUS CHRIST: No, if you are the chief
of sinners; if you are murderers of fathers, and murderers of mothers;
if you are emphatically the dung and offscouring of all things; yet if
you believe on JESUS CHRIST, and cry unto him with the same faith as
the expiring thief, “LORD, remember me, now thou art in thy kingdom;”
I will pawn my eternal salvation upon it, if he does not shortly
translate you to his heavenly paradise. Wonder not at my speaking with
so much assurance: For I know “it is a faithful and true saying, and
worthy of all acceptation, that JESUS CHRIST came into the world to
save (all truly affected and believing) sinners:” Nay, so great is his
love, that I am persuaded, was it necessary, he would come again into
the world, and die a second time for them on the cross. But, blessed
be GOD, when our LORD bowed down his head, and gave up the ghost, our
redemption was finished. It is not our sins, but our want of a lively
faith in his blood, that will prove our condemnation: if you draw
near to him by faith, though ye are the worst of sinners, yet he will
not say unto you, “Verily I know you not.” No, a door of mercy shall
be opened to you. Look then, look then, by an eye of faith, to that
GOD-man whom ye have pierced. Behold him bleeding, panting, dying upon
the cross, with arms stretched out ready to embrace you all. Hark!
how he groans! See how all nature is in an agony! The rocks rend, the
graves open; the sun withdraws its light, ashamed as it were to see the
GOD of nature suffer; and all this to usher in man’s great redemption.
Nay, the Holy JESUS, in the very agonies and pangs of death, prays for
his very murderers; “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they
do.” If then you have crucified the Son of GOD afresh, and put him to
an open shame, yet do not despair, only believe, and even this shall be
forgiven. You have read, at least you have heard, no doubt, how three
thousand were converted at St. _Peter_’s preaching one single sermon,
after our LORD’s ascension into heaven; and many of the crucifiers of
the LORD of glory undoubtedly were amongst them; and why should you
despair? For “JESUS CHRIST is the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever.”
The Holy Ghost shall be sent down on you, as well as on them, if you
do but believe; for CHRIST ascended up on high to receive this gift
even for the vilest of men. Come then, all ye that are weary and heavy
laden with the sense of your sins, lay hold on CHRIST by faith, and he
will give you rest; for salvation is the free gift of GOD to all them
that believe. And though you may think this too good news to be true,
yet I speak the truth in CHRIST, I lie not, this is the gospel, this is
the glad tidings which we are commissioned to preach to every creature.
Be not faithless then, but believing. Let not the devil lead you
captive at his will any longer; for all the wages he gives his servants
is death, death often in this life, death everlasting in the next:
But the free gift of GOD, is eternal life to all that believe in
JESUS CHRIST. Pharisees are and will be offended at my coming here,
and offering you salvation on such cheap terms; but the more they bid
me hold my peace, the more will I cry out and proclaim to convicted
sinners, that JESUS, _David_’s Son according to the flesh, but
_David_’s Lord as he was GOD, will have mercy upon all that by a living
faith truly turn to him. If this is to be vile, I pray GOD, I may be
more vile. If they will not let me preach CHRIST crucified, and offer
salvation to poor sinners in a church, I will preach him in the lanes,
streets, highways and hedges; and nothing pleases me better, than to
think I am now in one of the devils strongest holds. Surely, the LORD
has not sent me and all you hither for nothing; no, blessed be GOD,
the fields are white ready unto harvest, and many souls I hope will
be gathered into his heavenly garner. It is true, it is the midnight
of the church, especially the poor church of _England_; but GOD has
lately sent forth his servants to cry, “Behold the bridegroom cometh:”
I beseech you, O sinners, hearken unto the voice! Let me espouse you
by faith to my dear master; and henceforward “watch and pray,” that you
may be ready to go forth to meet him.
_Secondly_, I would apply myself to those amongst you, that are not
openly profane, but by depending on a formal round of duties, deceive
your own souls, and are only foolish virgins. But I must speak to your
conviction, rather than your comfort. My dear brethren, do not deceive
your own souls. You have heard how far the foolish virgins went, and
yet were answered with “Verily I know you not:” The reason is, because
none but such who have a living faith in JESUS CHRIST, and are truly
born again, can possibly enter into the kingdom of heaven. You may,
perhaps, live honest and outwardly moral lives, but if you depend on
that morality, or join your works with your faith, in order to justify
you before GOD, you have no lot or share in CHRIST’s redemption: For
what is this but to deny the LORD that has bought you? What is this but
making yourselves your own Saviours? taking the crown from JESUS CHRIST,
and putting it on your own heads? The crime of the devil, some have
supposed, consisted in this, that he would not bow to JESUS CHRIST,
when the Father commanded all the angels to worship him; and what do
you less? You will not own and submit to his righteousness; and though
you pretend to worship him with your lips, yet your hearts are far from
him; besides you, in effect, deny the operations of his blessed spirit,
you mistake common for effectual grace; you hope to be saved, because
you have good desires, and a few short convictions; and what is this,
but to give GOD, his word, and all his saints, the lie? A _Jew_, a
_Turk_, has equally as good grounds whereon to build his hopes of
salvation. Need I not then to cry out to you, ye foolish virgins, watch.
Beg of GOD to convince you of your self-righteousness, and the secret
unbelief of your hearts; or otherwise, whensoever the cry shall be
made, “Behold the bridegroom cometh,” you will find yourselves utterly
unprepared to go forth to meet him: You may cry “Lord, Lord;” but the
answer will be, “Verily, I know you not.”
_Thirdly_, I would speak a word or two by way of exhortation to
those who are wise virgins, and are assured that they have on a
wedding-garment. That there are many such amongst you, who by grace
have renounced your own righteousness, and know that the righteousness
of the LORD JESUS is imputed to you, I make no doubt. GOD has his
secret ones in the worst of times; and I am persuaded he has not let
so loud a gospel cry to be made amongst his people, as of late has been
heard, for nothing. No, I am confident, the Holy Ghost has been given
to many at the preaching of faith, and has powerfully fallen upon many,
whilst they have been hearing the word. You are now then no longer
foolish, but wise virgins; notwithstanding, I beseech you also to
suffer the word of exhortation; for wise virgins are too apt, whilst
the bridegroom tarries, to slumber and sleep. Watch therefore, my
dear brethren, watch and pray, at this time especially; for perhaps a
time of suffering is at hand. The ark of the LORD begins already to be
driven into the wilderness. Be ye therefore upon your watch, and still
persevere in following your LORD, even without the camp, bearing his
reproach: the cry that has been lately made, has awakened the devil
and his servants; they begin to rage horribly; and well they may; for
I hope their kingdom is in danger. Watch therefore, for if we are not
always upon our guard, a time of trial may overtake us unawares; and,
instead of owning, like _Peter_ we may be tempted to deny our master.
Set death and eternity often before you. Look unto JESUS, the author
and finisher of your faith, and consider how little a while it will be,
ere he comes to judgment; and then our reproach shall be wiped away;
the accusers of us and our brethren shall be cast down, and we all
shall be lodged in heaven for ever, with our dear LORD JESUS.
_Lastly_; what I say unto you, I say unto all, watch: high and low,
rich and poor, young and old, one with another, I beseech you, by the
mercies of JESUS, to be upon your guard: fly, fly to JESUS CHRIST,
that heavenly bridegroom: behold he desires to take you to himself,
miserable, poor, blind and naked as you are; he is willing to cloath
you with his everlasting righteousness, and make you partakers of that
glory, which he enjoyed with the Father before the world began. Do
not turn a deaf ear to me; do not reject the message on account of
the meanness of the messenger. I am a child; but the LORD has chosen
me, that the glory might be all his own. Had he sent to invite you
by a learned rabbi, you might have been tempted to think the man had
done something; but now GOD has sent a child, that the excellency of
the power may be seen not to be of man, but of GOD. Let the learned
Pharisees then despise my youth: I care not how vile I appear in the
sight of such men; I glory in it. And I am persuaded, if any of you
should be married to CHRIST by this preaching, you will have no reason
to repent, when you come to heaven, that GOD sent a child to cry,
“Behold the bridegroom cometh!” O! my brethren, the thought of being
instrumental in bringing one of you to glory, fills me with fresh zeal.
Once more I entreat you, “Watch, watch and pray:” for the LORD JESUS
will receive all that call upon him faithfully. Let that cry, “Behold
the bridegroom cometh,” be continually sounding in your ears; and begin
now to live, as though you were assured, this night you were to “go
forth to meet him.” I could say more, but the other business and duties
of the day oblige me to stop. May the LORD give you all an hearing ear,
and obedient heart, and so closely unite you to himself by one spirit,
that when he shall come in terrible majesty, to judge mankind, you may
be found having on a wedding garment, and ready to go in with him to
the marriage.
Grant this, O LORD, for thy dear Son’s sake!