348 SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. [SeR. IV.
Boci. 2. That this will be found to be true wisdom, and the other
folly.
For wisdom, to begin with that. Wisdom is index sui et obliqui. Wisdom lieth —
1. In proposing a right end.
2. In the choice of fit means.
3. In an earnest prosecution of the end by these means. This is the property of wisdom in the general, and it holdeth true in godly wisdom. The wise virgins did so. Their end was right; to be admitted into the nuptial feast, or everlasting enjoyment of God. And then they use right means, such as will bring them to the end. We do not use to draw ships in the sea with horses, nor draw waggons with the wind. We must not use contrary means, nor insufficient means. We cannot go to the bottom of a well that is thirty foot deep with a line that is but ten foot. We must use such as will certainly do. The wisdom of God hath fixed means for us, and we are doubly fools if we will not use them opportunely, carefully and constantly ; else it is a ' price put into a fool's hand,' Prov. xvi. 17. The wise virgins did all this ; sought oil in time both for their lamps and vessels, Luke xiii. 24. On the contrary, he that contents himself with a pro- fession of Christ, without a work of grace upon his heart, is a fool ; he is not a profane fool that doth the contrary, but a professing fool ; that sort of profession is better than profaneness, so far it is a degree of wisdom ; but rested in it is folly, it faileth in all the points of wisdom in the end. They do not esteem the Lord as the chief good, for they think a little ease of the flesh, or a little sensual liberty, or a satisfaction of a lust, to be better ; or honour, or pleasure, or gain ; this quiets them in the neglect or want of God. They see some good in Christ, offer fair for him, but take him not as the chiefest good ; they are willing to part with something, but not with all for his sake.
SERMON IV.
Wli'de the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. — Mat. XXV. 5.
We have seen wherein they differed, now we shall see again wherein they agree. In the words observe —
1. What happened to the virgins, they cdl slumbered and slept.
2. The occasion of it (I do not say the cause), while the bridegroom, tarried. The cause of sleeping was infirmitas humana ; the occasion of it, mora sponsi. In the first of these —
[1.] Who? then all.
[2.] What ? slumbered and slept.
First, Who? they cdl. It is no wonder to hear it of the foolish virgins, but that the wise should do it, there is the difficulty ; there- fore some of the ancients understand it of death, which is called sleep in scripture ; but that is improbable, and suiteth not with the frame and drift of this parable. (Some would understand it distributively,
VER. 5.] SERMONS UPON MATTHEW XXV. 349
not conjunctively ; that the wise slumbered, and the foolish slept ; but it is not said slumbered or slept, but slumbered and slept. The mean- ing is, all of them were not so diligent in their duty as they should have been : even the good are in part negligent as well as the foolish, though they always keep a good conscience, and a heart in some mea- sure always prepared to meet Christ.
Secondly, What ? slumbered and slept ; wherein the degree of their security is set forth. They did not only slumber, which is a less fail- ing, but slept.
Thirdly, The order, first slumbered, and then slept.
Doct. That the foolish and wise both slumber and sleep.
I shall first inquire, What this slumbering and sleeping is.
Secondly, How far it may befall the children of God, or the wise virgins.
Thirdly, The causes and reasons of it.
First, What this slumbering and sleeping is. It is twofold — that of the body, and that of the mind. That of the body, when the senses cease for a time to do their office ; that of the mind is a secure state of soul, and that is twofold — moral and spiritual.
1. Moral. When reason and natural knowledge is as it were asleep and useless to us, a man doth not act as a reasonable creature : Ps. xciv. 8, '0 ye brutish among the people, when will ye be wise?' and Ps. xxii. 27, ' All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord ;' Ps. cxix. 59, ' I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.' If men did improve common principles, show themselves men, they could not continue in that course of life wherein they allow themselves. In part this sleep of reason may be- fall the children of God : they do not consider nor turn their minds to their affairs, nor act as men whose eyes are open.
2. Spiritual sleeping. Here I shall show the nature and effects of it.
[1.] The nature of it ; when graces are not lively and kept in exer- cise. I shall instance in those three theological graces, faith, hope, and love ; a weak dead faith, a feeble sleepy love, a cold and careless hope.