took no oil with them : but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps," ver. 3, 4, . 331
„ III. "They that were foolish took their lamps, and
took no oil with them : but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps," ver. 3, 4, . 339
„ IV. " While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered
and slept," ver. 5, . . . 348
„ V. " While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered
and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh ; go ye out to meet him," ver. 5, 6, . . . 360
„ VI. " Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their
lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out," ver. 7, 8, . . . . 371
„ VII. " But the wise answered, saying, Not so ; lest
there be not enough for us and you : but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for your- selves," ver. 9, 383
„ VIII. "And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came ; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage : and the door was shut," ver. 10, .... 392
„ IX. "Afterwards came also the other virgins, saying,
Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not," ver. 11, 12, . . . 404
» X. " Watch therefore ; for ye know neither the day
nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh," ver. 13, .... 413
,, XL "For the kingdom of heaven is as a man tra-
velling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered to them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one ; to every one according to his several ability," ver. 14, 15, . . 423
Vlll CONTENTS.
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Sermon XII. " Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. Likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money," ver. 16-18, 434
„ XIII. " After a long time the lord of those servants
cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents : behold, I have gained besides them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant ; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents : behold, I have gained two other talents besides them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things : enter thou into the joy of thy lord," ver. 19-23, . 447
„ XIV. " Then he which had received the one talent came
and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sowed, and gathering where thou hast not strawed : and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth : lo, there thou hast that is thine," ver. 24, 25, . . . . . 461
„ XV. " His lord said unto him, Thou wicked and sloth-
ful servant, thou knewest that I reaped where I sowed not, and gathered where I have not strawed ; thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury," ver. 26, 27, . . . . 470
„ XVI. "Take therefore the talent from him, and give
it to him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance ; but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath," ver. 28, 29, ... 482
SEVERAL SERMONS UPON THE CXIX. PSALM.
VOL. IX.
SEVERAL SERMONS UPON THE CXIX. PSALM.
SERMON CLIX.
Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. — Ver. 142.
In this verse the word of God is set forth by a double notion, of right- eousness and law ; accordingly two things are predicated of it : as it is righteousness, it is said to be an everlasting righteousness ; and as it is law, it is said to be the truth. Both imply our duty : as there are truths in the word, it is man's duty to believe them ; as there are commands, it is man's duty to obey them. I shall treat first of the notions, secondly of the predications.
First, The notions; and there the word is first called righteousness. ' Thy righteousness/ God's righteousness is sometimes put for the righteousness which is in God himself ; as ver. 137, ' Righteous art thou, 0 Lord ; ' Ps. cxlv. 17, ' The Lord is righteous in all his ways/ And sometimes for the righteousness which he requireth of us ; as James i. 20, ' The wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God ; ' that is, the righteousness which God requireth of us ; and here in the text. Once more, that righteousness which God requireth of us in his word is sometimes taken, in a limited sense, for the duties of the second table, and so usually when it is coupled with holiness, Luke i. 75 ; Eph. iv. 24, ' The new man is created after God in righteousness and true holiness.' Holiness giveth God his due, and righteousness giveth man his due. Sometimes it is taken in a more general sense, as to imply the whole duty and perfection of man ; thus righteousness when it is put alone.