For che underſtanding of all Parables, I have formerly ſhewed, That Pars are Similizzdes brought trom ſome Earchly Things, or Affftiens, to Hiuſtrace ſome Heavenly Doftrine, - or Spiritual Myitcrics, and intinuace them inco our Practice. For the right underſt.nding of all Purables, rhe firft and principal thing ro be atcended ro, is the Scope and main End ot the Parable» Whar Ecaveniy DoGrine iris, which our Saviour by that Earthly Simi- licude dc{i-nerh ro illuſtrate; or what pra&tical cliing 1t 15 which he deti.ncch by that Parble ro preſs, I have ſhewed , our Sa- viour loinetimes more particularly ſhewerh chis, exprefſing whar he meanr by the ſeveral Things, and Aftions mentioned in the Purthle. This he did, Chap. 13. in the Parable of rhe Sower.and of the Tires of the Field : Bur in moſt Parables he doth nor 1, but from ſomerhing going betore, or coming atter, gives us Lizhr enough ro know whar his main Deſign was, and leaverh to us by char co interpret the ſeveral parts of the Parable. Here he hach lett us a ſufficient Light to know his Meaning: 1. From his Diſcourſe in the latter end of rhe foregoing Chapter, where he had been preſſing the Dury, and Prudence ot Watchtfulneſs, from the Incerrainty of the Time of his Coming. Ir 15 maniteſt that he is purſuing the ſame Deſign till, by the 637 wean, or, the Saying with which he cloſerh this Parable, wer. 13. Watch 3e therefore, for you know neither the Day, nor the Hour wherein the Som of Man cometh. Tins Watchfulneſs we had interpreted, by an Oppoſition ro Sin , both of Omifſion and Commiſion ; taking heed of having our Hearts over-charged with Surteiring, and Drunkenneſs, and Cares of this Lite. Luk. 21. 34, 36. Ta- king heed of ſmiting our Fellow-Servants, eating and drinking with the Drunken, diſcharging our Trust faithfully ; Miniſters giving to the Houſhold of Christ cheir Portion in due Seaſom, Ch. 24. ver. 45, 49. being ready for the Coming of Chriſt, ver. 43. Praying, Luk, 21. 35. This our Lord had preſlcd there particularly on Mini- {ters He is here in this Parable preffing the fame Duty on all ; and in this Parable furcher opens the Duty of Watchfulnefs, not only as oppoſcd ro Slumbring and Sleeping, bur as comprehending a gerring of our ſelves ready, (as he had faid , Chap. 24. 44.) aud chis Readineſs he alſo turcther openeth 1n this Parable under the Notion or having nor only Lamps, bur Oyl in our Lamps, To theſe purpoſes he rakes up this Parable, which we ſhall not ſo well underſtand without urderſtanding their uſual Rires, and Cuſtoms ar ieddings, which were theſe. 1. Their 2arriages were ordinarily in the Night, 2. They uſually had young Men that at- tended the Bridezroom, and young Virgins that attended the Bride at ber E:the;'s Hſe, The young Men attended the Bridegroom theſe were called the Children of the Bride-Chamber , or the Friends of the Bridegro:m or Bride, Mar. 2.19. Joh. 3. 29, The Weddins b:ing in the Night, there was need of Lamps. When rhe Bride,ro:m came, the Bride-Maids, who were attending che Bridz, went forth to meer the Bridegroom with Lamps lighted to condutt him and his Companions into the Houſe, and ro Her who was to be the Bride, When they were entred the Door was ſhut, and the Marriaze proceeded. Our Saviour now to quicken his Audi:ors ro the Witchfulneſs before ſpoken of, ſuppoſerh ſuch a Aizricg? and Ten Virgins, (the uſual Number at ſuch Solemni- rics) He ſupp»ſeth theſe Ten Virgins, to have been, half of chem 1K;/e,and half Fooliſh ; rhe Wiſdom of the one,he makes to lye in getting their Lamps ready, and furnithing chemſelves in rime with Oyl ro reed rhem, that rhey might not go our, erther while they waited for kis Coming, or in their Condutt of him. The Folly © otners he makes ro lye in their want of this Care, fo as when the Eridegroom came their Lamps were out. They would have borrowed Oyl of the ochers, but they had none to lend them, {+ as they were ſhar our of the Door of the Bridal-Houſe; and tho* they knocked could cbrain no entrance. It 15 nor hard now ro apply, rhe ſeveral Parcs of the Parable ro the End tor which this Parable 1s brought; provided that we do not expet thar Similitudes ſhould run on tour Feer , or that every minure Cir- cumſtance in a Parable fnould be firred in the Explication. The tcingdom of Heaven (which in Scripture. always fignifics that of Grace or Glory) here f1yninech thar of Grace ; the State of the Ciurc! is likened to Ten Virgins; theſe Ten Virgins are Profeſſors ; ter Limnps and their going forth to meet the Bridegroom, ſignific their Joinr-profeſſion of rhe G:ipet, and cheir ExpeFation joyfully 0 mect Chriſt (who 1s the Bridezroom here meant,) Pſal. 45. 14.
Joh. 3. 29. { Five were Wiſe, frve Fooliſh. ) This ſignifieth difterence of Profeſſirs; tome have Lamps, make a Profeſhns bur have no Truth ot Grace; others have the Root of the Matter
| in them, a true Kazirh, and Love which feeds Men; Profetſion