Second Reason. Though a common work may go far, it is not likely to hold out. Their lamps went out, and they had no vessels to supply them. Notwithstanding the sudden pangs and fervours, and forward profession of temporaries, yet usually they fail in the issue. They believe for a while, Luke viii. 13, and hope for a while : Col. i. 23, ' If ye continue steadfast, and be not moved from the hope of the gospel.' Love for a while : Mat. xxiv. 12, ' The love of many shall wax cold ; ' and good reason ; partly because they have not the grace to which the promise of perseverance is made. There is donum -per- seveinntice, there is such a thing as the gift of perseverance, and it is assured by promise to special saving grace. Now they that have not this radicated state of grace, have not this promise ; for Christ saith, John iv. 14, ' The water that I shall give him, shall be a well of water springing up to eternal life.' A cruse may fail, a bucket emptied, a pond dried up, but a fountain is ever flowing, and never dried up. Therefore David prayeth, ' Let my heart be sound in thy statutes, that I be not ashamed.' When the heart is not sound before God, disorders break out before men, and many that make a fair show for a while, afterwards shipwreck themselves, and all their credit
Vers. 1, 2.] sermons upon matthew xxv. 329
for godliness. And partly because where the heart is not thoroughly converted to God, evermore some temporal good thing lieth too close to the heart, and hath a deeper rooting there than grace can have. And these base and carnal delights will in time prevail over the interest God hath in the heart, Heb. xii. 13. That which is lame is soon turned out of the way : ' Demas hath forsaken us, and embraced the present world.' Men of an unsound heart have some temptation or other that carrieth them quite off from God : as old Eli fell and broke his neck, so they break the neck of their profession.
Third Reason why many that are virgins come short of the nuptial feast. Because if they should hold out a constant profession, it will not be enough to qualify them for heaven and everlasting happiness. It is possible an unrenewed man may never fall from his profession, yet he can bring nothing to perfection. Luke viii. 13, the stony ground fell from their profession, but the thorny ground brought nothing to perfection. All are not exposed to great trials. Oh ! nothing but a real conversion will qualify us for the kingdom of heaven. The foolish virgins' case was as fair and as good as the other, till the bridegroom came : Mat. xviii. 3, ' Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.' The sentence is absolute and peremptory. So John iii. 3, ' Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Nothing less than renew- ing grace will serve the turn. Be a man in appearance better or worse, a gross sinner, or a painted pharisee, a hopeful beginner, or one of long- standing, 'Except ye be born again, ye cannot see the kingdom of God.'
Use 1. To show how far from salvation some are, if those that have some kind of faith, and hope, and love, may come short; as for instance — (1.) All practical atheists and infidels, that scoff at Christ's coming : 2 Peter iii. 3, 4, ' In the last days there shall come scoffers, walking after their own lusts, saying, Where is the promise of his coming ? ' Some, that they may sin the more securely, question the second coming of Christ, or banish out of their hearts the thoughts of the day of judg- ment. Many that went out to meet the bridegroom yet were foolish virgins, and were shut out. (2.) Flagitious persons, or scandalous sinners, that neither respect Christ nor his people, that make no show nor preparation, are neither virgins, nor do they take their lamps ; if they have a historical certainty, not a temporary faith. How much then of the Christian world would be cut off before we come to an accurate and exquisite trial ? 2 Peter iii. 11, 'What manner of persons ought we to be ? ' and Gal. v. 24, ' They that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts thereof.' If this be a sure rule to try by, what a multitude of Christians are there that do not belong to Christ, that by a real profession have given up their names to him !
Use 2. Is caution to us all. Let us take heed we do not deceive ourselves, or rest satisfied with the picture of godliness. An army would be very cautious if they knew beforehand that one-half of them should be destroyed. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Among the virgin professors that hold out an honourable profession, many will be found foolish. Yea, when Christ had said, ' One of you shall betray me ; ' ' Lord, is it I, is it I ? ' said the disciples. Now you are here told, not one, but many. Now go home, and say,