We have much the ſame, Lub. 12.41, 42, 43. whether ſpake ar the ſame rime, and upon the fame occaſion or no, I kno nor, Ic 15 ſaid there, v. 41. that Peter gave occaſion to this Diſcourſe by ſaying, Lord ſpeakef thou this Parable to us, or even to all Our Saviour replyeth as here ; only Luke faich, Who is that fuith- ful and wiſe Steward ? The Queſtion intimates thar chere are but a tew ſuch. The Diſcourſe plainly reterreth to the Miniſters of che Goſpel whom Chriſt leaverh in cruſt with his Church zo give them their Meat in due Seaſon; he declareth the Blefſedneſs of thoſe Miniſters thar ſhall be found faichtully difcharging their Truſt, and chat the Lord in the Day of Judgment will exalr them to a much greater Honour according to thar of Dan.1 2.3. They that be wiſe ſhall ſhine as the brightnejs of the Firmament ; and they that turn many to Righteouſneſs, as the Stars for ever and ever.
4.8 But and if that evil ſervant ſhall ſay in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming,
49 And ſhall begin to ſmire hzs fellow-ſervants, and to eat and drink with the drunken :
50 The lord of that ſervant ithall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he IS not aware of;
51 || And ſhall cut him aſunder, and appoint h: | Or, cue his portion with the hypocrites : * there ſhall be 4m of. weeping , and gnaſhing of teeth.
Luke hath much of this, chap. 12.45. But and if that Ser- vant ſay in his Heart, my Lord delayeth his coming, and ſhall begin to beat the Men-ſeruants and Maia-ſervants, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; the Lord of that Servant will come in a Day when he loabeth not for him,and at an Hour when he us not aware, and will appoint him his Portion with Unbelievers. It that Servant prove an Evil Servant, preſumerh upon my not making ſuch haſte r9 Judgment as he thought I would , and ſhall prove a Perſecucor of my People, or a looſe and debauched Perſon; I will come ro his Particular Judgment betore I come to the General Judg- ment, and ar ſuch a time as he ſhall nor be aware of me, and deſtroy him, and give him his Portion with ſuch as believe noc my Second Coming , and with ſuch as are one thing in Proteſ- ſion, and another thing in Praftice, in Hell, where the Condition of poor Creatures will be Miſerable, as the Condition oft choſe rhar Weep and Gnafſh their Teeth. By this Parable our Saviour doth quicken his Apoſtles, ro whom he intended to leave rhe Care of his Church when he ſhould be aſcended into Heaven, ro a faithful Care of the Flock committed to their Truſt; and alſo lers us know that in ſucceeding Ages, there would arife a Gene- ration of looſe and debauched Miniſters, and ſuch as would per- ſecure the ſincerer Profeflors of his Goſpel, who could not
comply with their Do&rines, and Lives: Of which as all Azes of the Church have given a Proof, ſo the time ſince Popery hach prevailed in the World, hath given a more plentiful, and abun- dant Proof. All which Extravagancies are incouraged from rieir Atheiſm , and Unbeliet of Chrift's Coming ro Judgment. He
alſo ſhewerh how ſevere he will be againſt ſuch Perſons : He
will come upon them betore they be aware of ir, and | cut ther
in pieces. ] The Word ſignifies ro cur them in Two Pieces, as
the Fews were wont ro divide their Sacrifices : or (as ſome think)
as ſome Pazan Narions were wont to puniſh Pertidious Perſons,
and ſome more Notorious Malefators ; and give him his Porcion
with Unbelievers, and Hypocrites in Hell, Chap. 13. 42. and
25. 30. The Caſe of all Perſons that live fecurely, and de-
bauched Lives , becauſe Judgment is not ſpeedily executed, will
be ſad : Bur the Cafe of Miniſters that do fo will be dreadful.
They are a ſorr of Sinners, whom God ſeldom ſuffererh to live
our half rheir Days: and when he doth , yer they ſhall nor
eſcape the ſevereſt Damnation of Hell. They betray a greater
Truſt, and lead Mulritudes to Hell with them, and 1o are the
greateſt Traytors againſt the Divine Majeſty.
CHAP. Xx
The Parable of the Ten Virgins , repreſenting the Duty of Watc:ful- neſs, 1—13. The Parable of the Talents entruſted with three Ser- vants « Tye Approbation of them that Traded well : The Sentence and Puniſhment of him that Laid it up in a Napkin, 14--30. Chris deſcribeth the La8# Judgment , 31—46.
I Hen ſhall the kingdom of heaven be likene! unto ten virgins , which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wiſe, and five were foolith,
ming of Chritt, and ro ſtand betore the Son of Man when he
Vol, It,
£31 2 23 They
Chap. XXV.
47 Verily I fay unto you, * That he ſhall make * chap.25,
* Ch.$8., 12,
Chap, XXV S. MATTHEW.
I Pet. Js 3.
Revilf ts,
So hey that were fooliſh, took their lamps, and 200k no oy] with them : : : + Bur the wiſe took ovl in their veſiels with their -
17s. 5 While the bridegroom rarried , they all ſlum- bred and flepr. :
5 And ar midnizhr there was a cry made, Behold, the brid-groom cometh, go ye our ro mect him. |
- Then all rhoſ2 virgins aroſe, and trimmed thelr {amps.
$ And the fooliſh faid unto the wiſe, Give usof
vs your oyl, for our lamps are || gone our.
o But the wiſe anſwered, ſaying , Not ſo, leſt there be not enough for us and you : bur go ye rather to them rhar {:11, and buy tor your {Ives.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready, wenr in with him to the marriage, and * the door was [hur. :
11 Afterward came alſo the other virgins, ſaying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 Bur he anfivered and ſaid, Verily I fay unto
you, * | know you nor. ; 12 * Watch theretore,for ye know neither the day ncr the hour wherein the ſon of man cometh.