Part 218

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.”