2. Mark again, it is not meant the scandalous and faulty members of a pure church. There are many Christians in name on]y, but indeed deny it, Titus i. 16. But it is not meant of the scandalous, that live as if their hopes were altogether in this world, that engulph them- selves in all manner of sensuality, as if there were no heaven or hell, nor no future account to be given of our actions ; but it is meant of such as profess themselves to be devoted unto Jesus Christ the bridegroom, such as are desirous to be admitted into the nuptial-feast, to have communion with him in heaven, and possibly may attain to a blameless conversation, and appear virgin-like, all waiting for the coming of the Lord, in their own and others' estimation. Some that prophesied in Christ's name, and ate and drank in his presence, are yet rejected by Christ as workers of iniquity.
3. It is not meant only of those that have a show or a false and coun- terfeit profession, that are taught to act over their part in religion as a play, as in the best and purest churches there will be hypocrites. No ; these had some real work, though not a saving but a common work, as a man may have a light tincture of religion whose heart is not yet sound with God, Ps. cxix. 80, therefore David prayeth, ' Let my heart be sound in thy statutes.' There was not a universal
324 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SER. I.
renouncing of all corruptions, not that thorough care to please God, nor a rooted affection to Christ, though they have some good motions, hopeful inclinations that way, as these virgins seemed to be well affected to Christ ; for the present they had their lamps, made some slender preparation, they went forth to meet the bridegroom as others did. Therefore it will be necessary to show that a common work may go far, and yet come short of blessedness: I shall prove it by three reasons.
[1.] Because a common work may go far.
[2.] Though a common work may go far, yet it is not likely to hold out.
[3.] If it should hold out a constant profession, yet it will not be enough to qualify us for the kingdom of glory, or heavenly bliss and happiness.
First Reason. A common work will go far. I take it for granted that there is a real common work of grace, as well as also a real special work. If you doubt it I will inform you from scripture : Heb. vi. 4, compared with the 9th verse. We read there of some that were 'enlightened,' some that 'tasted of the good word, and of the heavenly gift ; ' and elsewhere of some ' that had escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of Jesus Christ/ 2 Peter ii. 20. All this is real, the tasting the good word real, the enlightening real, the partaking of the heavenly gift real, the escaping the pollutions of the world real ; but the apostle saith in the 9th verse, ' We expect better things of you, and things that do accompany salvation;' or things that have necessarily salvation in them, things that whosoever hath them shall certainly be saved. The graces of temporaries are for substance true, but slightly rooted ; there are the purlieus of grace, or the borders of the kingdom of heaven, some flashes of light or dawnings of grace, but the daystar doth not arise in their hearts ; many are enlightened, taste the good word, have some delight in the promises, taste of the heavenly gift, apprehend it sweet to have communion with God in Christ, and taste the powers of the world to come, feel some transports of soul when they hear of the hopes of eternal life, and may be brought to some partial reformation ; but that which is wanting is a deep radication or a more firm inher- ency of these graces in the soul, and a habitual predominancy of these motions and affections over all other inclinations ; for till it be so, we cannot do any great service for God, or endure any trial for his sake. Sometimes true grace is described by its deep radication ; James i. 21, it is called an ' ingrafted word ;' it is not something tied on, but ingrafted ; the root of the matter is within ; and sometimes it is described by its efficacy : Bom. vi. 17, 'Ye have obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine delivered to you/
But more especially I shall show you that a common work may go far with respect to the three theological graces, faith, hope, and charity, mentioned by the apostle 1 Cor. xiii. 13, ' Now abideth faith, hope, and love ;' and again, 1 Thes. v. 8, ' But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet the hope of salvation.' Now a common work may go very far in all these graces of faith, hope, and love, as here the virgins seemed to believe the coming of Christ, and went forth to meet him.
Vers. 1, 2.] sermons upon matthew xxv. 325