Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven

Or, An Exposition of the first thirteen Verses
of the twenty-fifth Chapter of Matthew.

Matt. 13:34. All these things spake Jesus to the Multitude in Parables, and without a Parable spake he not unto them.

Luke 8:10. Unto you it is given to know the Mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in Parables, etc.

Psal. 78:2. I will open my mouth in a Parable. I will utter dark sayings of old.

London, Printed for Benjamin Harris, and are to be sold at the Stationers Armes in ????
Rents, in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange.

Art thou a Professor? I entreat thee do not rest in the form of Godliness without the power thereof; that undid the foolish Virgins to Eternity. It is a vain thing for any person to seem to be religious and not so in truth. The fig tree that had leaves was cursed by Christ, because it bear no fruit, and it suddenly withered.

Art Thou a Believer? Ponder then what is propounded in this little Treatise, and search the Scriptures, whether what is therein affirmed by true or not, I know but in part, yet am I willing to impart my knowledge for thy Edification. And if any truth here asserted, shall profit your understanding, my earnest request to you is, that you will give all the Glory to God.

Are you a profane person, and one that does scoff at the Doctrine of the Coming of Christ? Then know, that yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. But if (in the meantime) you die in your sins, you will be damned to Eternity. Be serious therefore in reading this little Book, it may be God will make it a blessing to your Soul, and then I have my end.

As you read this old work you will be impressed with Knolly’s knowledge of the different ways the Scriptures set forth the Comings of Jesus Christ, especially His great Second Coming. In this work, Knollys deals with Christ’s coming at the beginning of His thousand years. He shows the terrible condition that will then prevail over the earth and even among Christ’s churches and saints. He then shows what this coming is, and how the saints go forth to meet Christ and their blessings in so doing.

The Key in understanding Knolly’s concepts is how the old Baptists considered Christ’s Comings. They considered Him to come in at least these three basic ways:

As you read this you will be impressed with Knolly’s deep spiritual searching into the heart and soul of gospel professors. The Old Baptists had no idea of any carnal Christians. Yes, Christians could, and often did, backslide and left their first love, but they did not remain in such a condition. You may find his searching manner a bit unnerving. Still, he goes on, and in love to Christ and His people, shows what is mean by having the Form of Godliness and Denying the Power Thereof.

As you read Knollys on The Ten Virgins, you will be impressed with his expectation of hope. He did not set forth a defeated church at the Coming of Christ. Rather, he sets forth the expectation of a great revival and world-wide turning to Christ, His Church and His ordinances, in the last days.

I hope he is correct, but either way, the impact from this work is, Saints prepare to meet the Bridegroom by going froth to Christ in the fullness of His Gospel Church, Ministry and Ordinances. These are the Wise Virgins. The Foolish Virgins are those who do not have Christ within, and therefore do not go forth to meet Him as the Bridegroom in His True Church, His true Ministry and His true Ordinances.

Let me say a few words about Knollys and common grace. To him, common grace was the Lord’s having the gospel church, ministry and ordinances about for sinners to look unto for divine guidance. When sinners rejected the gospel church, ministry and ordinances, they were rejecting God’s common grace. He is not presenting what Andrew Fuller presented centuries later.

In addition, you will be impressed by Knolly’s earnest love and appeal to lost sinners to come to Christ in the true gospel way. This foundational concept of their understanding of the gospel is one of the main reasons they were so successful in spreading the gospel in the 1600s.

I feel Knolly’s most import part is, Christ In His Fullness and His Glory is Presented in such a Way that we do not often find in other works. May you enjoy Knolly’s holding up and presenting Jesus Christ as the Coming Bridegroom to His Spouse, His Church.

If you are unfamiliar with the old Particular Baptist’s writings about Christ and His gospel system and Church, you will be amazed as Knollys sets forth what the Church of Christ really is as held forth in the Sacred Scriptures. They did not believe in the Protestant concept of the universal, invisible church. Your view of the Gospel Church will never again be the same if you are a first time reader of the old Baptist’s Ecclesiology.

1. Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened unto ten Virgins, which took their Lamp, and went forth to meet the Bridegroom.

2. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

3. They that were foolish, took their lamps, and took no oil with them.

4. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

5. While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.

6. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him.

7. Then all those Virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.

8. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.

9. But the wise answered, saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for your selves.

10. And while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came, and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.

11. Afterward came also the other Virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.

12. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

13. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day, nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

The Lord Jesus Christ being asked by his Disciples what shall be the sign of his coming, chapter 24:3, answered and said, verse 12, Iniquity shall abound and the love of many shall wax cold, and verse 21, Then shall be great Tribulation, such as was not from the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. So the Apostle testified also, 2 Tim. 3:1. But saith our Savior verse 29, Immediately after the Tribulation of those days, verse 30, Then shall appear (not the person but) the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven -------- And they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great Glory --------- Then shall the Kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten Virgins, chapter 25:1.

These thirteen verses contain a Parable and the Application of it to Christ's Disciples. In the Parable are three General parts, viz. 1. verses 1-5. 2. verses 6-9. And 3. (verses 10-13. And the Exhortation or Application of the Parable, in verse 13.

By the Kingdom of Heaven in some places of the holy Scripture we are to understand the Kingdom of Glory, Matt. 5:3. Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. In other places of Scripture by the Kingdom of Heaven, we are to understand the spiritual Kingdom of Grace in the hearts of sanctified Believers, Matt. 13:31. The Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a grain of Mustard seed. By the Kingdom of Heaven in some other places of Scripture we are to understand the mystical Kingdom of the Church of Christ under the Gospel, Matt. 16:18,19. Upon this Rock (that Rock is Christ, 1 Cor. 10:4) I will build my Church, And I will give thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.

By the Kingdom of Heaven in this verse we may not understand the Celestial Kingdom of Glory, for there are no foolish Virgins in that Heaven, nor the spiritual Kingdom of Grace which is the Kingdom of God within us, Luke 17:21. But, the Mystical Kingdom of the Church of God under the Gospel, wherein there are both wise and foolish Virgins.

1. Meditation. Every true visible Constituted Church of Christ under the Gospel did in the Apostles' days and shall in the latter days bear some resemblance unto the Kingdom of Heaven. For Confirmation of this Doctrine read: Isa. 60:1,2,3,7,13,14,15,19,22. The glory of the Lord shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seen upon thee, verse 2. I will glorify the house of my glory, verse 7. And I will make the place of my feet glorious, verse 13. I will make thee an eternal Excellency, verse 15. The Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting Light, and thy God thy Glory, verse 19. I the Lord will hasten it in his time, verse 22. That is, in Christ's Day.

Touching the first particular, A true, visible Constituted Church of Christ under the Gospel is a Congregation of Saints, 1 Cor. 1:24; called out of the World, Rom. 1:7; separated from Idolaters and Idol Temples, 2 Cor. 6:16,17; from the unbelieving Jews and their Synagogues and all legal observations of holy days, Sabbath days, and Mosaical Rites, Ceremonies and shadows, Acts 19:9, Col. 2:16,17; and assembled together in one place, 1 Cor. 14:23; on the Lord's Day, the first day of the week, Acts 20:7; to worship God visibly by the spirit and in the truth, John 4:23,24; in the holy Ordinances of God, 1 Cor. 11:2; according to the faith and order of the Gospel, Col. 2:5.

1. Christ the head of the Church, is the King of Saints, Rev. 15:3, and the King of Zion, Psal. 2:6 and 149:1,2. Let the Children of Zion (the Congregation of Saints, verse 1) be joyful in their King.

2. The Church of God is Christ's Throne, Jer. 17:12. A glorious high Throne from the beginning (of his Mystical Kingdom) is the place of our Sanctuary, Rev. 4:4. A throne was set in Heaven, the Church, and ONE sat on the throne, namely Christ. And round about the Throne were twenty-four Seats or Thrones; And upon the Seats I saw twenty-four Elders (the spiritual Priests of God) sitting clothed in white Raiment, and they had on their heads Crowns of Gold.

3. Christ the King of his Church, is their Law-giver, Isa. 33:22. The Lord is our Statute-maker, and the Bible is his Statute-Book wherein are published all the Laws of God's house, Ezek. 43:10,11, according to which Laws the Church of Saints are to be governed by their Elders whom Christ has set over them to Rule and Govern them, Heb. 13:7,17, according to the Laws of his house.

1. With respect unto the gracious and glorious presence of God the Father, Son and holy Spirit in the Church: God dwelling in Zion, Psal. 9:11, Joel 3:21; for it is his Rest, Psal. 132:14. Matt. 18:20, For where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them. Rev. 2:1, Christ walketh in the midst of the Golden Candlesticks. God's presence makes Heaven to be Heaven, and that makes a Heaven on Earth, a Heaven in the heart, and a Heaven in the Congregation of Saints.

2. With respect unto the spiritual glory of the Church of God in the latter days, Isa. 60:12,13. The Beauties of Holiness, Psal. 110:3, makes Zion the perfection of Beauty, Psal. 50:2. The Temple was filled with the Glory of God, Ezek. 43:5 and 44:4. And the Glory of the Lord filled the House of the Lord. The house of the Lord is the Church of the living God, 1 Tim. 3:15. And the Temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, Rev. 15:8.

3. With respect unto the great Company and number of Saints in the Assemblies and Churches of Christ (called the Churches of Saints, 1 Cor. 14:33) among whom and in whose Assemblies are the holy Angels because of whose presence the Women were to be veiled, 1 Cor. 11:10. This will be more evident in the last days, when the holy City the New Jerusalem shall come down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband, Rev. 21:1,2,3. And when we are come to Mount Zion, unto the City of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem, to the general Assembly and Church of the first born, and to Jesus the Mediator of the new Covenant, Heb. 12:22,23,24, then will the Church of God on Earth bear some greater proportion with and resemblance unto the Kingdom of Heaven.

Ten is a Mystical number as Dan. 7:7,20,24, ten horns; Jude 14, ten thousand of Saints; Rev. 2:10, ten days, and so ten Virgins. That is a definite number for an indefinite.

By Virgins we are to understand Gospel professors and Church members, (2 Cor. 11:2, I have espoused you to one Husband that I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ) who have escaped the pollutions of the World through the knowledge of Christ, 2 Tim. 3:5.

Some are foolish Virgins, formal professors denying the power of Godliness, only seeming to be Religious, James 1:26, who after they have escaped the pollutions of the World through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, are again entangled therein and overcome, whose later end is worse than their beginning, 2 Pet. 2:20.

Others who are wise Virgins having not only the form but the power of Godliness also, and being partakers of the Divine Nature have escaped the Corruption that is in the World through Lust, 2 Pet. 1:4. These being not defiled with spiritual Whoredoms do follow Christ wheresoever he goes, Rom. 14:4. These are they which are not defiled with Women (neither the great Whore of Rome, Mystery Babylon, the Mother of Harlots, Rev. 17:1,5, nor the Daughters of that Whore, false Churches, whose Mother Mystical Babylon is, though some of those Daughters be (as Nineveh was called, Nahum 3:4) well-favored Harlots, because of the multitude of their spiritual Whoredoms.

Meditation. The Churches of Saints in the last days shall be reformed and restored unto a Virgin state of primitive purity and spiritual Glory, as in the Apostles' days.

For the Confirmation of this Doctrine read and consider these Scriptures, viz. Isa. 2:2-5: And it shall come to pass in the last days that the Mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the Mountains, etc. Isa. 60:2-6; 13, 17, 21. He that is left in Zion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy, etc. [Isa. 4:3]; Isa. 60:7,13,21: I will glorify the house of my Glory, and I will make the place of my feet glorious, etc. Isa. 65:17,18,19,25: For behold I create new Heavens and a new earth, etc.: Rev. 20:1-5. Behold I make all things new, 2 Pet.3:13,14. Rev. 14:1-5, These are they that follow the Lamb, for they are Virgins.

1. What Reformation will be in the Churches of Saints in the last days.
2. What things shall be restored then which are or have been wanting in the Churches of Saints since the Apostles' days.

1. Professors of the Gospel and Members of Churches will be much reformed from many Corruptions in their Judgments and Conversations. The Apostles tell us and foretold the Churches that in the later days some Professors would be corrupted in their Judgments. Compare 1 Tim. 4:1-3 with 2 Pet. 2:1-3. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And in the last days other Professors would be corrupted in their Conversations, 2 Tim. 3:1-5. Covetous, proud, promise and Covenant Breakers, Lovers of pleasures more than Lovers of God, having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof. And are not too many members of Churches (who seem to be religious, Jam. 1:26) very much corrupted in their Judgments, and some also in their Conversations? But the days are coming when there shall be a great Reformation in both these Respects.

For God will return to the people a pure Language, Zeph. 3:9,13. The Remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth. And those Virgin professors that follow the Lamb, Rev. 14:4,5 shall be redeemed from the Earth, verse 3, and from men, verse 4. And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God, verse 5.

2. The Discipline and Government of the Churches will be very much reformed in the last days, for then Christ the LORD will Reign in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem and before his Ancients gloriously, Mich. 4:6,7, from henceforth even for ever. The Churches of Saints shall be ruled and Governed by the holy, Righteous and good Laws of the Lord Jesus Christ, Isa. 33:22, who is the Son over the house of God, Heb. 3:1,6. Ezek. 43:10,11: Show them all the Laws of the house and let them measure the Pattern, etc. Isa. 9:6,7: The Government shall lie upon his shoulders. Christ is the Legislator, the Law-giver, the Bible is his and his Church's Statute Book, and all the Churches, Ministers and Saints of God are to be governed by his Royal Law of Liberty, in obeying and keeping whereof there is a Blessing promised, James 1:25.

1. The Ministry of the Gospel will be restored in the later days, Jer. 13:14,15. I will bring you to Zion and I will give you Pastors according to my heart, and they shall feed you with knowledge and with understanding.

2. The gifts of the holy spirit shall be restored in the last days, Joel 2:21,23,28,29,30,31. The LORD will do great things ------- Be glad then ye Children of Zion ------- I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, etc. Acts 2:17,18, And it shall come to pass in the last days (saith God) I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh, etc. This is that which God has promised and will again perform.

3. The Ordinances of God will be restored to his Churches in the later days. Antichrist has made void the Commandments of God by the Traditions of men (as the Scribes and Pharisees did Mark 7:6-8). And he has changed the Ordinances of Christ, and brought in the Ordinances of men, Col. 2:20,22,23. Why are ye subject to Ordinances (or Traditions) after the Commamdments and Doctrines of men, which is (Greek word) will-worship, verse 23 and vain worship, Matt. 15:8,9. (Greek words) But in vain do they worship me, etc. The Ordinances of God (which have been corrupted by men's Inventions, and superstitions) shall be restored to their primitive purity and first Institutions. Read Jer. 32:38 and [30:40] and compare it with Zeph 3:9. Then will I turn to the people a pure Language (or a clean Lip) that they may call upon the Name of the Lord and serve him with one shoulder (or consent). In that Day the LORD shall be ONE, and his Name ONE. That is, in the later Days Christ and his Saints shall be ONE Kingdom, and his way and worship but ONE in all the Earth.

The Virgin Professors of the Gospel and Worshippers of God in the Churches of Christ have Lamps, that is, the presence of God in his Worship and Ordinances, Matt. 18:20. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, says Christ, there am I in the midst of them. So God manifested his presence with Abraham when he was offering a Sacrifice to the Lord, Gen. 15:17,18. Behold a smoking furnace and a burning lamp, passed between those pieces; And God made a Covenant with Abraham. Read Exod. 19:18,27 and 20:11, and Isa. 4:5, Rev. 15:9. God appointed seven Lamps to be lighted and supplied with sweet Oil of Olives, both in his Wilderness Tabernacle, Exod. 25:37 and in his Canaan Temple, 2 Chron. 4:20,21, that they might burn continually before the Lord, which typed forth the seven Spirits of God, Rev. 3:1,4,5. And there were seven Lamps of Fire burning before the throne which are the seven spirits of God, that is, the variety and abundance of the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Eternal Spirit. There are diversity of Gifts, but the same Spirit, 1 Cor. 12:4 and so there are diverse and many fruits of the Spirit, Gal. 5:22,23.

These ten Virgins having received their Lamps, to wit, a commandment from the Lord (for the Commandment is a Lamp, Prov. 6:23) to worship him by the Spirit in Truth, and Spiritual Gifts and Grace to perform the Gospel Instituted Ordinances of Christ according to the holy Will of God revealed in his written word. For his Word is a Lamp, unto the feet of his Saints, and a Light unto their Paths, Psal. 119:105.

3. Meditation. The Virgin Professors of the Gospel and Worshippers of God in the Churches of Saints shall have Gospel Light and Spiritual Gifts in the later days to Worship God in the Order and Ordinances of the Gospel according to the written Word of God.

First, Virgin Professors shall have Gospel Light in the later days to worship God aright. The written Word of God (through the teachings of the holy Spirit) to wit, the commands of Christ and the Examples of his Apostles, Churches, and Saints approved by Christ (recorded in the holy Scripture of Truth) will be a Lamp and a Light unto them, Psal. 119:105; Prov. 6:23 and 1 Cor. 11:1,2; 14:37, Phil. 3:16,17 and Isa. 60:1-3. Arise, shine, thy Light is come -------. And the Gentiles (or Heathen Nations) shall come to thy Light, etc.

Secondly, Virgin Professors in the Churches of Christ in the later Days shall have spiritual Gifts qualifying and enabling them to worship God by the Spirit and in the Truth in the Order and Ordinances of the Gospel, Acts 2:17. And it shall come to pass (saith God) in the last Days, I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, etc. 1 Cor. 12:4, There are diversities of Gifts, but the same spirit. As in the Days of the Apostles, so shall it be in the last Days, Joel 2:21,28,29, much more poured forth. (Editor’s note, these old brethren held that the spiritual gifts were the true and empowered ministers of Jesus Christ, see for Example Samuel Richardson’s The Saint’s Desire, REP).

This Bridegroom is the Lord Jesus Christ, John 3:29. He that hath the Bride is the Bridegroom, that is, Jesus Christ, to whom his Churches and Saints are espoused, 2 Cor. 11:2, whom Christ has betrothed to himself in loving kindness and faithfulness for ever, Hosea 2:19,20. They are his Sister and his Spouse, Cant. 4:10, the Lamb's Wife, Rev. 19:7,8. And He is the Bridegroom, Isa. 62:5. With the Joy of the Bridegroom over the Bride shall the LORD rejoice over thee.

To meet the Bridegroom, does imply two things. First, that the Virgins did know and believe that Christ was coming, Psal. 96:9,11,13. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Let the Heavens rejoice, and let the Earth be glad and rejoice before the Lord, for he cometh, for he cometh, etc. Had not the foolish Virgins known and believed that Christ would come, yea and that he was coming, they would not have gone out to meet him, but would rather have scoffed at his coming when the wise Virgins had spoken of it, as those Scoffers will do, 2 Pet. 3:3,4. There shall come in the last Days Scoffers saying where is the promise of his Coming?

Secondly, that all the Virgins did know and believe, that the coming of the spiritual Bridegroom Christ Jesus was near, and that he would come quickly or shortly. The Bridegroom's coming was even at the Door, therefore they went out to meet him, Heb. 10:37. Yet a little while and HE that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the Just shall live by Faith. The Virgins believed this and went out to meet the Bridegroom, and they had Scripture ground to believe it, because Christ had revealed it in his written word, Rev. 22:12. Behold I come quickly, verse 20. HE which testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly, Amen.

That is, the Virgin Professors in the Churches of Saints in the later days knowing and Believing the Coming of Christ the Bridegroom, will go out from their nearest and dearest Relations, their great Possessions. They will forsake Father and Mother, Wife and Children that will not go out with them to meet the Bridegroom, and will follow him wheresoever he goes, as his Disciples did, Matt. 19:27. So will the Virgins do, Rev. 14:1,4. And it is the duty of all Christ's Disciples so to do, Luke 14:26,27; Matt. 20:37-39. And they that forsake all their Relations, Estates, Lands, Houses, Goods and all for Christ, shall not lose by so doing, Luke 18:28-30, and Mark 10:28-30, Rev. 22:12. Behold I come quickly and my Reward is with me.

4. Meditation. That such Gospel Light will be revealed to Virgin Professors in the later days, and such anointing of the Spirit will be poured out upon them, as will cause them and make them willing to sell all, lose all and forsake all, and go out to meet the Bridegroom.

1. Gospel Light touching the Kingdom and Coming of the spiritual Bridegroom our Lord Jesus Christ will be revealed in the later days, Matt. 24:14. And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be Preached in all the world ------- And then shall the END come, Zech. 14:6, 7:7. It shall come to pass, that at Evening Time it shall be light. ------- And the Lord shall be King over all the Earth. In that DAY shall there be ONE Lord and his Name ONE. And Rev. 22:5. The Lord God giveth them Light ------- And they shall see his face, and his Name shall be in their foreheads, And they shall Reign for ever and ever. ------- Which must shortly be done, Behold I come quickly, etc.

2. The Anointings of the Spirit, the Gifts and powerful operations of the Spirit will be upon Virgin Professors in the later Days, Joel 2:28,29; Isa. 43:3,5,6 and 32:15-17; 1 John 2:13,14,20,27. The Fathers, the young Men, and the little Children shall have the Unction of the Holy ONE, etc. Then it will be with Virgin Professors as it was in the Apostles' Days, 1 Cor. 12:4-11, etc. There are Diversities of Gifts but the same spirit; and there are diversities of operations but the same God; All these worketh one and the self same Spirit.

3. This Gospel Light, Anointing and operation of the Holy Spirit upon Virgin Professors in the last Days will engage them and make them wiling to go out to meet the Bridegroom, Psal. 110:2,3. The Lord will send the Rod of thy strength out of Zion: Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies. Thy People shall be willing in the DAY of thy power, in the Beauties of Holiness, etc. God will put his Spirit within them and cause them to walk in his ways, Ezek. 36:27. HE will pour his Spirit upon them, Ezek. 39:29 and they shall obey his voice, Matt. 25:6. Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. And they went out to meet the Bridegroom.

This verse contains the first Distinction of Virgin Professors. Five were wise, and five were foolish. Five is a definite number put for an indefinite, and thereby a small number here is put for a great number, and a few for a very many, the five foolish Virgins, for all sorts of Gospel Professors, who having a form of Godliness want the power thereof, 2 Tim. 3:5. And the five wise Virgins, for all sorts of Worshippers of God that make not only a Profession of Christ, but have also Possession of Christ dwelling in their hearts, Eph. 3:17, both which particulars will plainly appear in the Exposition and handling of the 3rd and 4th verses.

The Holy Spirit has given many distinguishing Characters in the Scripture of Truth between these wise and foolish Virgins, whereof some in this Parable, which I have already mentioned in General, and shall afterwards show particularly. And the Scripture Distinctions between sanctified Believers and Hypocrites: between them, that only seem to be Religious, and them that are sincerely so in deed and Truth; between those that are in Christ, having an Everlasting and inseparable Union with him, and those that are without Christ, who make a profession of Christ, but have not possession of Christ in their hearts. I say all those scripture distinctions are applicable, and may be accommodated unto the wise and foolish Professors, but especially that Scripture Distinction, 2 Tim. 3:1-5, which the holy Spirit makes between them that have the form, and them that have the power of Godliness, which Christ in this Parable does metaphorically express by the foolish Virgins, verse 3, who took their Lamps, but took no Oil with them, and the Wise Virgins, that took Oil in their Vessels with their Lamps, verse 4.

Verses 3 and 4: They that were foolish took their Lamps, and took no Oil with them.
But the wise took Oil in their Vessels with their Lamps.

By Lamps we are to understand Temple Light, viz. Divine knowledge and spiritual Gifts, as has been proved in the Exposition of the first verse, whereby our Savior did mystically and metaphorically show, That the foolish Virgins had a form of Godliness.

By Oil in their Lamps is meant that shining outward profession of Christ, which went out at last, verse 8. Give us of your Oil for our Lamps are gone out. The Light of the knowledge of Christ and of the Prophecies and of the Mysteries of his Kingdom and Coming, which shined in the Profession they made, and in the Witness and Testimony that they had born for Christ against Antichrist, withered away and died. And all their common Gifts and Graces faded and failed. And they all fell away like the stony ground hearers, Luke 13:8. Who believe for a time, but in Time of Temptation fall away.

By Oil in the Wise Virgins' Vessels we are to understand Jesus Christ, and the spirit of Christ and the sanctifying knowledge of Christ, and the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in their hearts and in their souls. For their souls are Vessels of Mercy prepared for Glory, Rom. 9:23,24. And their Mystical and spiritual Oil is the Unction of the Holy ONE, which they have received, I John 2:20,27. Whereby our Savior did figuratively and mystically show That the Wise Virgins had the power of Godliness. And in this part of the Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven, Christ declares and testifies, that they are foolish Virgins, who rest satisfied and content themselves with the form of Godliness without the power of Godliness, who have Lamps but no Oil..

2. That they are wise Virgins who have both Lamps and Oil in their Vessels (to wit, Christ and his Spirit and his Grace in their hearts) having both the Form and Power of Godliness.

Meditation: It's not the Lamp-light of Profession and the Form of Godliness, but the Oil of Grace, and Sanctification, even the Power of Godliness in heart and Life, that will put the Denomination of, and distinction between wise and foolish Virgin Professors in the last days.

Though this be very clear and plain by what has been already said, in this Exposition, yet because I do think it may be profitable,

I am therefore willing (through Divine Assistance) to treat more largely of the Form and power of Godliness, (and therein to demonstrate the Wisdom and folly of Virgin Professors) than I shall do of some other things held forth in this Parable, which I judge less necessary to enlarge upon.

That which I shall offer to Consideration touching the Form and Power of Godliness does consist in these three following Propositions.

1. There is the form of Godliness and the power of Godliness. All the Virgins had burning and shining Lamps, and some of them had Oil in their Vessels with their Lamps, verse 3.

2. The form of Godliness, may be where the Power of Godliness is not. The foolish Virgins took their Lamps, but took no Oil with them, verse 3, to wit, in their Vessels, that is, They had the form of Godliness in their Profession, but they wanted the power of Godliness in their hearts and Conversation.

3. That some Virgin Professors in the Churches of Saints having the form of Godliness will deny the power thereof in the last days, of whom the Apostle spoke expressly and foretold, 2 Tim. 3:5.

Touching the first Proposition, the word in Greek signifies any form, or kind of Worship, or Godliness. Having no Article joined with it, it does not signify this, that, or the form of Godliness properly, or strictly; but indefinitely, any form, and every form of Godliness, and consequently the form of Godliness.

There are diverse forms of Religion wherein men worship and serve God according to the different apprehensions and persuasions of persons professing Godliness; whereof some, yea several are of man's devising, Matt. 15:8,9 compared with Col. 2:20,22,23. But there is a form of Godliness, which is of God's own Institution under the Gospel, wherein men ought to worship God in Spirit and Truth, John 4:23,24, according to his own appointments, Psal. 3:3,16.

The Form of Godliness (of God's own appointment) consists in the External religious performance of all those Evangelical Duties which he has Commanded us in his holy Word, Ezek. 43:10,11, according as he has commanded, wherein persons seem to be religious and Godly. Formal Professors do perform those religious Duties

1. They act from the principle of self, which is the common and highest principle that formal Professors and Hypocrites are acted by in the Worship of God. They pray for themselves, fast and mourn for themselves, and live to themselves, Zech. 7:4-6. Self-love, self-seeking, self-confidence, self-dependency, self-sufficiency, self-righteousness, and self-salvation is the frame and End of a formal professor. Self is the Spring and main principle of all he does in his Religion, Hosea 10:1, 2. Israel is an empty Vine, He brings forth fruit unto himself.

2. They act from a principle of Tradition which they have received from their Fathers by custom and Education. So did the Apostle Paul worship God before his conversion, being zealous of the Traditions of his Fathers, Gal. 1:14,15. I profited in the Jews Religion above many --------- Being more exceedingly zealous of the Traditions of my Fathers. Thus many formal Professors now worship God after the Traditions and Customs of their Fathers and Teachers, as the Scribes and Pharisees did, whom Christ reprehended, Mark 7:8,9,13. Ye hold the Tradition of men, and in vain did they worship God, making the word and Commandments of God of none effect by their Traditions. Jer. 7:18, and 44:16,17. The Children gather wood and the Fathers kindle the Fire, and the Women knead their Dough to make Cakes to the Queen of Heaven and to pour out drink-offerings unto other Gods, that they may provoke me to anger. ------- As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the Name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee ------- But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth to burn incense unto the Queen of Heaven, and to pour out drink-offerings unto her, as we have done, we and our Fathers, our Kings and our Princes in the Cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of Victuals, and were well, and saw no evil.

3. They act from a principle of fear; legal fear, (to wit, the fear of hell, wrath or Curse, etc.) causes many professors to pray, hear Sermons, perform holy duties, and to partake of God's Ordinances. Also a servile fear of the Anger and displeasure of men, causes many Children and Servants to Worship God formally, and they seem to be Religious because they are afraid to anger and displease their Godly Parents, Masters, or some other Godly Relations. And that their fear of God is taught by the Commandments of men, Isa. 29:13, and thereby they are made conformable unto the External parts of God's Worship, and attain unto a Form of Godliness, yet are without the power thereof..

4. From a Principle of superstition many are like the Idolaters of Athens, who worshipped the unknown God, Acts 17:22,23. They were very superstitious in their Will-worship of God. The Zeal and Superstition of the Scribes and Pharisees made them so formal in their legal Ceremonial worship of God, Luke 18:12. I fast twice a week, etc. And Rom. 10:2. Many of the Jews being zealous in their Devotion, but wanting knowledge, worshipped God according to the superstitious Inventions of men, which things the Apostle says, have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, Col. 2:20,24. And do make formal professors subject to ordinances of God after the Commandments and Doctrines of men.

This may suffice to evince and demonstrate That there is a form of Godliness. And indeed none can Externally worship God without some form of Godliness, wherein Persons do seem to be Religious and may seem to be like God in Holiness and Righteousness both in Worship and Conversation in some measure.

As there is the Form of Godliness, so there is the power of Godliness. The Power of Godliness consists:

1. In the truth of Grace.
2. In the lively Acts and Exercise of Grace.
3. In the Growth and perfection of Grace.

The power of Godliness consists first, in the truth of Grace. In whatsoever form of Religion any professors worship God; yea though that External form be ordained of God, instituted by Jesus Christ and practiced by the Apostles, Churches and Saints; yet for all this without the Truth of Grace, they are void of the power of Godliness. And therefore the primitive Saints did not only receive the Ordinances but the Truth of Grace also by the Ministry of the Apostles in the Dispensation of the Gospel, Col. 1:4-8. And knew the Grace of God in Truth. True Grace is the incorruptible seed of the New Birth, 1 Pet. 1:23, and of the Kingdom of God in the hearts of Believers, Matt. 13:31,32, which Kingdom of God is within us, Luke 17:21, is not in Word only, but in power and in the holy Spirit, 1 Cor. 4:20 and 1 Thes. 1:4,5.

Now the Power of Godliness does demonstrate itself by true saving sanctifying Grace:

1. In denying all ungodliness.
2. In living soberly, righteously and Godly in this present evil World, Tit. 2:11,12. This is the constant frame of a Believer's heart. He would not sin, he hates all sin. He would be holy, he loves holiness, and desires to be more holy, Rom. 7:15,16,19-22.

Secondly, the power of Godliness does consist in the lively Acts and Exercise of Grace, as the form of Godliness appears in the frequent Exercise of holy Duties, so does the power of Godliness appear in the lively Acts and Exercise of holy Graces, to wit, in the life and lively work of faith, 2 Thes. 1:11,12. Also in the labor of fervent love, 1 Pet. 1:22. Bearing all things, enduring all things with all Brotherly kindness, Rom. 13:4,7 and Heb. 6:10. Likewise in the constant exercise of Patience, humility, meekness, and self-denial, taking up the Cross daily, bearing it patiently, following the steps of Christ, who humbled himself unto death, even the Death of the Cross. Now believers who have the power of Godliness, are armed with the same mind, 1 Pet. 4:1, and desire to be like minded to Christ, Phil. 2 5,8. They suffer patiently, knowing that tribulation (which is the trial of their faith) works patience, and are desirous that patience may have her perfect work, James 1:2-4.

Thirdly, the Power of Godliness does consist in the growth and perfection of grace. Grace is of a growing nature, 2 Pet. 3:18.

1. It grows in its Root which is Jesus Christ, Col. 2:6,7. As the good seed that is sown in good ground and brings forth fruit, Luke 8:8,15. The reason why mere formal Professors fall away is, because they are not rooted nor grafted into Christ, Luke 8:13. And the reason why those believers that are engrafted into Christ, grow as Cedars in Lebanon, as a green Olive Tree in the House of the Lord, and bring forth fruit as the Vine, is because they are trees of Righteousness, the planting of the Lord, Isa. 61:3, which take Root downward into Christ, and so bring forth fruit upward by that sap and nourishment which they receive from that spiritual Root, to wit, those Divine Influences of the Spirit of Grace that they are made partakers of by being engrafted and rooted into Christ. This growth in Grace is very secret, hidden, not seen nor always discerned, like the growth of Corn underground, or of Trees in Winter, or of the Child in the Womb; yet it does afterwards appear and is visible.

2. Grace grows in its lively acts and Exercise. As a Child after its natural birth grows in all parts and Members of the Body, so a Child of God being regenerated and born again of the incorruptible seed of the Word, does grow in Grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ by adding one Grace to another, unto faith, virtue; to virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, Godliness, etc., 2 Pet. 1:5-11. This growth in Grace demonstrates the power of Godliness: by this spiritual growth in Grace, the weak in faith, Rom. 14:1, become strong in faith, 1 John 2:14 and little faith becomes great faith. Like the grain of Mustard seed that becomes a great Tree, and very fruitful, whereunto Christ likened the Kingdom of his Grace within us, Matt. 13:31,32 with Luke 17:21.

3. Grace grows in its fruits unto perfection, and hereby is the power of Godliness demonstrated, to wit in bringing forth much fruit, John 15:8, viz. the fruits of the holy spirit, Gal. 5:22,23, which are the fruits of Holiness and Righteousness unto Eternal Life, Rom. 6:22. Thus fruitful were the Saints in the Church of the Thessalonians, 2 Thes. 1:3. And the Apostle Paul exhorted the primitive Saints to perfect Holiness in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7;1. And the Apostle Peter exhorted the called ones of God to be holy in all manner of conversation, 1 Pet. 1:15,16, because he knew that the power of Godliness consisted in the life of holiness and righteousness, and is demonstrated in a holy Conversation.

Thus it appears, that there is the form of Godliness and the power of Godliness, which is the first proposition. The second Proposition is this,

Simon Magus seemed to be religious. He believed and was baptized, and took up the form of Godliness, Acts 8:12. But for all this formality he had not the power of Godliness, for he was in the gall of Bitterness and bond of Iniquity, and his heart was not right with God, Acts 8:21.

Ananias and Saphira his wife were both Professors, and Church-members. They had taken upon them the Name of Christ and the form of Godliness, seemed to be very charitable, and pretended much Brotherly Love to the poor Saints, for they sold a Possession, and gave a part of the price unto the poor, Acts 5:1,2. Yet, they were void of the power of Godliness.

There are many professors that are proud, covetous, carnal, covenant-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, heady, high-minded, Lovers of pleasures more than Lovers of God, etc. Many of them have a form of Godliness, but they have not the power of Godliness, 2 Tim. 3:2-5.

When Professors and Church-Members are generally formal in the performance of the duties of Religion, very perfunctory and superficial in the Worship of God, or lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, very indifferent whether they observe the Lord's Day or another Day, or no day at all to the Lord, so whether they hear the Word preached, or pray in their Families or in their Closets, or pray not at all, whether they come to the Lord's Table or stay away, it argues, they are so far from having the power of Godliness that they can scarcely be said to have the form of Godliness.

Again when Professors and Members of Churches are very frequent and constant in Assembling themselves together to worship God, very zealous and precise in the External part of the Worship of God and seem to be very Conscientious and scrupulous in such things as appertain to the form of Godliness, asserting and contending that all things ought to be exactly done in the Church of God, according to the Rule of the written word of God, and yet walk very disorderly at home, are heady and unruly in their own houses, set no Rules nor Bounds to their obstinate and perverse Wills, to their inordinate and vile affections, to their worldly and covetous hearts, who seem to be Religious, yet bridle not their Tongues but deceive their own hearts, their Religion is in vain, Jam. 1:26. These Professors have a form of Godliness, but they want the power thereof..

Thus it appears that the form of Godliness may be where the power of Godliness is not. Professors may have Leaves without fruit, as the Fig-tree had. Lamps, and lighted, but no Oil in their Vessels, like the foolish Virgins. Seem very religious in the congregation of Saints, and be very irreligious in their conversation among sinners.

The Reasons why Professors rest in and hold up a form of Godliness without the power thereof are these:

1. Because they would have a name to live though they be dead, Rev. 3:1. They are very desirous to have a Name in the house of God, to be accounted religious and to be numbered among the Saints. Therefore they take up a form of Godliness and rest therein. Those foolish Professors, Matt. 25:1,2, had gotten a Name among the wise, and were called Virgins. And they seemed to be Religious. They had Lamps of Gospel Profession, and the form of Godliness wherewith they were satisfied. Therein they rested securely till the Bridegroom came, and then He appeared they wanted Oil, that is, the truth of Grace and power of Godliness, for want whereof they were excluded and rejected by Jesus Christ, Matt. 25:8,11,12.

2. Because a form of Godliness will comport with a spirit of Worldliness, Earthly-mindedness, Covetousness, Pride, Uncleanness, Drunkenness, so that these Lusts be but secretly committed. A Professor and Church-member may be a self-lover and a lover of pleasures, a Covenant or Promise-breaker, and yet have and hold up a form of Godliness without the power thereof, 2 Tim. 3:1-5.

3. Because Professors and Church-members may avoid troubles and persecutions, while they enjoy Sabbaths, Sermons, and Ordinances in an External forms of public worship, whereas the power of Godliness will expose them to suffer persecution, 2 Tim. 3:12. So that the Form of Godliness may be where the power is not. This is the second Proposition. There is a third Proposition, viz:

That some Professors and Church-members having and holding up the
form of Godliness, deny the power thereof.

Professors they must be and Church-members they may be, that have and hold up the form of Godliness, and seem to be very devout and Religious in the Worship of God, and yet some of them deny the power of Godliness. We have showed in the handling of the first proposition wherein the form of Godliness and wherein the power of Godliness does consist, and have treated briefly both of the form and power of Godliness. Now it remains, that in handling this Third Proposition, we show:

1. To have an Aversion against it in their Affections, not to love and affect the power of Godliness, which Aversion against the power of Godliness does arise and spring from that cursed and sinful Enmity in their carnal minds against God, Rom. 8:7. The carnal mind is Enmity against God, and therefore carnal Professors do not love nor like Godliness in the Truth and power of it, though they may be sound in the form and profession thereof. O, says a formal professor in his heart, I do not love this preciseness, this is to be righteous overmuch. I like not those that are so strict, so zealous and so scrupulously conscientious. What necessity is there to deny my self, my Liberty, my lawful Recreation, content and delight in things indifferent? must my liberty therein be judged by another Brother's or Sister's Conscience? He loves not, he likes not this, it crosses his Interest in the World or it is contrary unto some of his beloved and indulged Lusts to be so zealous, so Religious, so Conscientious as the power of Godliness requires, and would engage him to be, therefore he is averse from it, and so may be said to deny it.

2. To refuse all the offers of Christ and Grace, which God makes them in the ministry and administration of the Gospel by his holy Spirit, Isa. 53:1-3; Acts 3:13,14. But ye denied the Holy ONE. That is, they refused Christ, and would not have him to be their Savior, King, Priest and Prophet, saying, We will not have this man to Reign over us. Formal Professors know not the worth of Christ, they are not sensible of their want of Grace, therefore they slight, neglect and refuse the Offers of Grace. They are willing to seem Religious, but as for the truth of Grace and power of Godliness they regard it not. They like Christ as a Savior but refuse him as a Sovereign, though they would be saved, they care not to be sanctified, they refuse to enter in at the strait gate of Grace, and to walk in the narrow way of holiness and yet they would go to Heaven, and to that end they cry, Lord, Lord, Matt. 7:21,22. They pray and Prophesy in Christ's name, Luke 13:23,27. They worship God, seem to be very religious and partake of all God's holy Ordinances, having a form of Godliness, but yet, they deny the power of Godliness by refusing the offers of Christ and Grace in the Gospel and Ordinances of God.

3. To live in the practice of known sins, secretly indulging and allowing them, Tit. 1:16. They profess that they know God, but in Works they deny him.

When Professors Lives are loose, carnal, worldly, and their works are the works of Darkness, and they themselves workers of Iniquity, they deny God and the power of Godliness.

The power of Godliness consists in practical Holiness. Some Professors seem to be holy in God's house, who live very ungodly in their own houses. They seem to be religious in the Church and in the Worship of God, but they are irreligious at home, in their Shops and Callings, Trading and Living in sin, and ungodliness. These having a form of Godliness deny the power thereof..

1. Because their hearts are not right with God. Simon Magus believed and was baptized, and worshipped God, but his heart was not right with God, Acts 8:21,23. There is a carnal Enmity in their hearts against God, and the power of Godliness, Rom. 8:7, though they like the outward form, yet they love not the inward power of Godliness.

2. Because the inward power of Godliness is cross to their outward and worldly Interests, therefore they deny the power thereof. The Formalist says within himself, though I am religious, a Church member, etc., yet I am resolved to make my Religion and Church-fellowship comport with my Interest in the world, and to be subservient unto my Honor, Credit, Profit, yea and my pleasure, delight and contentment, etc. When formal Professors discern that the power of Godliness will not only check and curb their vile affections, perverse wills, and sinful desires, but also will mortify, kill and destroy their Lusts and Corruptions, root and branch, then they refuse and deny the power of Godliness. Rather than the Formalist will hazard the loss of Life, Liberty or Estate, and expose himself to poverty, prison, banishment or death for his Religion, he will deny Christ, deny God and the power of Godliness.

3. Because the power of Godliness engages professors to follow Holiness, and to deny all ungodliness, Tit. 2:11,12. Such Professors as have the form of Godliness only, are very apt to rest in the external part and performance of holy duties and sacred Ordinances without the enjoyment of God and Jesus Christ. But the truth and Life of Grace and the power of Godliness will not suffer the soul to rest in duties and Ordinances without the enjoyment of fellowship and Communion with God, therefore the Formalist will not close with the power of Godliness, but refuses and denies it, because he is unwilling to leave his sins. I shall now make some application of what I have said touching the form and power of Godliness.

The Use of Instruction to Virgin Professors. There are three things necessary unto the form of Godliness, viz.

1. The knowledge of the Revealed Will of God in his written Word touching Christ's Institution of Gospel Ordinances, and his Constitution of the Worship of God therein, and thereby. How can any person worship God in spirit and truth (as true worshippers ought to do, John 4:23,24) unless they understand and know the truth, revealed in the holy Scriptures? Ignorant persons are not capable to perform the external part of the worship of God, for they do not know it. The Athenians worshipped the unknown God, which the Apostle told them was their great superstition, Acts 17:22,23. And our Savior told the Woman of Samaria, that the Samaritans worship they know not what, John 4:21,22. So then knowledge is necessary unto the form of Godliness. Many persons think it is enough that their Ministers know how they ought to worship God, and so are willingly ignorant, whose fear towards God is taught by the precepts of men, and they willingly walk after the Commandment, Hos. 5:11, which formality of Conformity Christ reprehended, Matt. 15:9. In vain they do worship me teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of men.

2. In the form of Godliness there must be a Conformity unto the Revealed Will of God in his Word, especially in the External part of the Instituted worship of God in the Gospel. Uniformity in Worship in any Nation or Congregation without Conformity unto the Rule or Canon of the holy Scripture, is but superstition and a worshipping God after the Inventions and Traditions of men, which the Apostle reproved in the Colossians, and calls Will-worship, Col. 2:20-23.

The Temple, the Altar and they that worship, (that is, the Church, the worship of God and the worshippers of God) are to be measured by the Reed or Rod of the Sanctuary, that is, by the written word of God, Rev. 11:1. Moses was commanded to do all things according to the pattern that God showed him in the Mount, Heb. 8:5 and the Prophet Ezekial was commanded to show the House of God's worship to the House of Israel and admonished them to measure the pattern, Ezek. 42:10.

3. In the Form of Godliness there ought to be an Uniformity among all the Churches of God in every Nation, in every City and in every Village. All that worship God in one place, are to Worship him in one way, with one accord and with one shoulder. It was so in the Apostles' days, Acts 1:4,24; Phil. 2:2, Being of one accord, on one mind. Acts 4:32, And so it shall be in the last days. Jer. 32:36,38,39, And I will give them one heart, and one way that they may fear me, (i.e.) worship me, for ever.

This Uniformity was tacitly hinted by the Apostle, in reproving the Confusion that was in the Church of Corinth, 1 Cor. 14:26,33. For God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace, as in all the Churches of Saints. Uniformity in Worship not after the Invention of men, but according to the written Word of God makes for Peace, Unity and Edification in the Churches of Saints, and is a special means to avoid confusion and disorder in the Worship of God, 1 Cor. 14:40.

1. Of those foolish Virgin professors who rest in the form of Godliness without the power of it. They may hereby be convinced, 1. That their hearts are not right with God, though they do materially that which is right in the sight of God; but are like Amaziah who did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, but not with a perfect heart, 2 Chr. 15:1,2. And whosoever rests in a form of Godliness, without the power thereof, deceives his own heart, and his Religion is in vain, Jam. 1:26. Such may be convinced,

2. That in all their solemn appearings before God, and their approachings nigh unto him, their hearts are far from him, Isa. 29:13 and Matt. 15:8. And testifies that all their worship is in vain, Matt. 15:8,9. And they themselves Hypocrites, verse 7. As the heart is, so is the Worshipper in the sight of God. If the heart be proud, covetous, vain, foolish, like-warm, formal and hypocritical, all that Professor's duties, performances and worship is abhorred of God, his soul hates them. Isa. 1:12-15 and chap. 66:3. Bring no more vain oblations, incense is an abomination to me, the New Moons and Sabbaths, the calling of Assemblies, I cannot away with. It is iniquity, even the solemn meetings, -------- Your New Moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth, they are a trouble unto me, I am weary to bear them. ------- And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine Eyes from you; yea when you make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood. He that killeth an Ox is as if he slew a man, he that sacrifices a Lamb as if he cut off a dog's neck, and he that offereth an oblation as if he offered swine's blood, he that burneth Incense as if he blessed an Idol; yea they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their Abominations. They may be convinced,

3. That they shall never see God in Heaven, Heb. 13:14, for without Holiness, (the power of Godliness) no man shall see the Lord. They are declared by God in his Word to be Hypocrites, Matt. 15:7-9, and if they Repent not, they shall have their portion with Hypocrites, Matt. 24:51, in the lowest and deepest of eternal flames, and of everlasting darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth.

Are you an Israelite indeed? Do you worship God in Spirit and Truth? Have you both the form and power of Godliness? Then be of good Comfort. For,

1. Christ is yours, and all is yours, 1 Cor. 3:21-23. God is your Father, Grace is your portion, and Heaven in your Inheritance, Holiness is your way, and Happiness will be your end, Matt. 5:8.

2. You do and shall enjoy spiritual Communion with God in holy duties, and in his sacred Ordinances. The power of Godliness does make the Believer fruitful under that form of Godliness which Christ has Instituted for the Worship of God; and affords him fellowship with the Father, Son and Spirit, 1 John 1:1-3.

3. Know for your comfort, that the power of Sin, Satan, Hell cannot, shall not prevail against the power of Godliness in you, so far as to provoke the Lord to forsake you for ever, or to cause you to forsake God for ever, for He has said, Heb. 1:3,5, I will never leave thee, never never forsake thee. Read for your Comfort Jer. 32:38,40, And they shall not depart from me. But the power of Godliness in you will by the power of Christ prevail against, conquer and overcome the power of darkness, and all the wiles of the wicked one, 1 John 2:13, also the power of this world, Eph. 6:12,13, and the threats, allurements, etc. thereof, 1 John 5:4,5. And likewise the power of sin, both the reigning ower thereof (called the Dominion of sin) Rom. 6:14, sin shall not have Dominion over you, because ye are not under the Law, but under Grace; and the Tyrannizing power thereof (called the captivity of sin) Rom. 7:2,3 and 8:2. But the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the Law of sin and Death. Rejoice therefore in the Lord and bless him, 1 Pet. 1:3-6,8.

1. A word to all profane persons who have neither the power nor the form of Godliness. I exhort such to consider their woeful state and miserable condition, being all of them without Christ having no hope, and without God in the World, Eph. 2:12. David tells profane sinners, The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the People that forget God, Psal. 9:17. You can live without Christ, trade without Christ, marry and give in marriage without Christ, but tell me, you profane sinners, what will you do if you die without Christ? can you think seriously of going to Hell, and being tormented there to Eternity? will the Enjoyment of the pleasures of sins for a season compensate the loss of your souls, and the pains of Hell forever?

2. A word to the foolish Virgin Professors who having a form of Godliness deny the power thereof.

I exhort such to consider seriously whether seeming to be Religious, and saying Lord, Lord, will save your immortal souls, Matt. 7:21-23. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doth the will of my Father which is in Heaven ------- Many will say to me in that Day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy Name, and in thy Name have cast out Devils, and in thy Name done many wonderful works? ------- And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me ye that word iniquity. Remember Professors that the foolish Virgins had their Lamps lighted, and they shined in the form of Godliness, but they found the Door of the Kingdom of Heaven shut against them. And when they said Lord, Lord, open to us, Christ said unto them, I know you not, Matt. 25:10-12, because they had not the power of Godliness, Luke 13:24,28. Strive to enter in at the strait gate, for many I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ------- There shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and all the Prophets in the Kingdom of God, and you yourselves shut out.

Do not rest in a form, without the power of Godliness, lest you sitting down in any Church of Saints and under the Sacred Ordinances of God without Christ, come short of Heaven, for without Holiness no man shall see the Lord, Heb. 12:14. The Kingdom of God is not in word but in power, 1 Cor. 4:20.

A word to the wise Virgins that have not only the Form
but the power of Godliness

1. To exercise the power of Godliness in the performance of holy Duties and in partaking of God's holy Ordinances, and not to rest in the form and external part of the Worship of God.

2. To Demonstrate unto all that you the power of Godliness by being holy in all manner of

Conversation, both in the house of God, and in your own houses, showing forth the virtue of him that has called you. Whereby the Faith, Humility, Self-denial, Patience, the Love and Life of Jesus Christ may be manifested in your Life.

How may Professors attain unto the power of Godliness and so become wise Virgins.

1. Professors must come to Christ in the Ordinances of God, 1 Cor. 1:18,24. Christ complained of the Jewish Professors that they would not come to him, John 5:40. Many come to Sermons, to Duties, to Ordinances, but few come to Christ, most rest in the form without the power of Godliness, satisfying themselves in coming to Sermons, and attending upon Ordinances, without going to Christ in them, Isa. 55:3.

2. The Gospel must come to professors not in word only, but also in power and in the holy Spirit, 1 Thes. 1:5, before they can come to Christ or attain to the power of Godliness.

3. The Ministers of Christ must declare the Testimony of God not with excellency of speech, not with enticing words of Man's Wisdom. Their speech and their preaching must be in the Demonstration of the spirit and in power, 1 Cor. 2:1,2,4,5, before the Gospel can come to their hearers' hearts in power and in the holy Spirit, and before their hearers can come to Christ, and before they can attain to the power of Godliness. The plain and powerful preaching of the Gospel is the ordinary means whereby God draws sinners with Cords of Love to Christ, and makes the Ministry of the word powerful and effectual to call, convert, sanctify and save sinners, Rom. 1:16,17; Rom. 10:14,17.

How may Professors know, that they have attained unto the power of Godliness,
and that they are wise Virgins.

Solution: Professors may know, that they have attained unto the power of Godliness, and are wise Virgins,

1. By the Victory they have obtained over the World, Satan, and their own sins. There's none but true Believers have overcome the World, 1 John 5:4,5. None but those that are strong in faith have overcome the Devil, that wicked one, 1 John 2:14. It's the truth of faith, and the power of Godliness, whereby sanctified persons do overcome their sinful Lusts and Corruptions. The Grace of God teaches all men to deny UNGODLINESS and worldly Lusts, Tit. 2:12.

2. By the lively Acts and constant exercise of Grace. In whomsoever the power of Godliness is, it will appear in the growth and exercise of Grace, 2 Pet. 3:18. Such Christians are fruitful under God's holy Ordinances, John 15:5. The Gospel came to them not in word only but in power and in the holy Spirit, 1 Thes. 1:5, and their faith did grow exceedingly, and the Love of them all exceeded, 2 Thes. 2:3.

3. By their holy Conversation in the World, 2 Cor. 1:12. This is our rejoicing, the Testimony of our Conscience that in simplicity and Godly sincerity by the grace of God we have our Conversation in the World. The power of Godliness will appear in a holy life and heavenly Conversation, as it did in the primitive Saints, Phil. 3:20, whereunto they were exhorted, 1 Pet. 1:15, viz. to be holy in all manner of Conversation.

Are they, that have the power of Godliness, obliged to the form of Godliness?

Yea, the Apostle commended the Church and Saints in Corinth for keeping the Ordinances of God, 1 Cor. 11:1, 2, and the Apostle Peter commanded them to be baptized with water, who had received the holy Spirit, Acts 10:47,48. All the Apostles, the Churches of Saints, and all true Believers looked at themselves to be obliged to the external form of Godliness and worship of God in external Gospel Ordinances, as it appears in the Acts of the Apostles and in their Epistles.

The Bridegroom is the Lord Jesus Christ, verse 1, who is here said to tarry or delay his coming, chapter 24:48, which he will not do in respect of the time appointed of the Father. Then he that shall come, will come, and will not tarry, Heb. 10:37.

1. Because He came not when they prayed for his coming, and earnestly desired his presence and appearance. Thus Jesus tarried two days after Lazarus' sisters had sent him word that he was sick, John 11:1,3,6, and yet came in due time and manifested himself with power and great glory in raising Lazarus from the Dead, verses 23,40,43,55.

2. Because He came not when they looked for him, and at the time when they expected his coming. The Apostle tells us, Heb. 9:28, Unto them that look for him he shall appear the second time without sin unto Salvation. But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the Angels of Heaven, but my Father, said Christ, Matt. 24:36.

All the Virgins, both the foolish and the Wise Virgins. First, they all slumbered or nodded, that is to say, they did not wake and watch as formerly they had done, while they waited for and expected the glorious appearance of their LORD, and bare their testimony of his coming. They began to be careless and secure, neglecting their Duty. They became drowsy and indisposed to wait any longer for the coming of the Bridegroom. They grew weary, silent and sleepy as the Spouse did, Cant. 4:16; 5:1,2, between her entreating and inviting her Beloved to come into his Garden, and his coming. I sleep but my heart waketh, verse 2

.Secondly, they all slept, or were fast asleep, that is to say, the wise Virgins as well as the foolish were fallen into a state of security, as persons are when they are fast asleep in the night season, fearing neither Fire, thieves or any other danger. So all these ten Virgins (it being now near Midnight) were fast asleep (as it were in a dead sleep) through their carnal security, and careless neglect of their Watch and other Holy Duties. And some of them backslide into a deep Apostasy, and so continued till the Cry at Midnight awakened them out of that deep sleep of carnal security, backsliding and apostasy, into which they were fallen, as appears in the 6th and 8th verses of this Chapter.

Meditation: Many Virgin-professors being mistaken about this time of Christ's coming, who tarried longer than they expected, will fall into the slumber of sinful silence and careless security. And some Professors will fall into a dead and deadly sleep of Backsliding and Apostasy. This Meditation consists of four Propositions.

First, many Virgin-professors have been and are mistaken about this time of Christ's coming. And that does appear by what many learned and Godly men have written and witnessed touching the coming of Christ, many have looked for the coming of Christ, as the Judge of quick and dead, 2 Tim. 4:1. I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his Kingdom. And that at the end of the World, 2 Pet. 3:3,10,12, when he shall give up his Kingdom to the Father, 1 Cor. 15:24-28. But few have expected the coming of Christ as the Bridegroom, and the New Jerusalem to come down from Heaven as a Bride adorned for her Husband, Rev. 21:1,2. Who looks for the Marriage of the Lamb? And who will grant that his Bride shall make herself ready, Rev. 14:7,8 to be married to Christ and to live and reign with Christ a thousand years here on Earth between the final destruction of the Beast and the false Prophet and the Eternal Judgment of the last Day, Rev. 20:4. But more will be spoken of the coming of Christ in the Exposition of the next verse.

Secondly, the Bridegroom tarried longer than the Virgins expected, while the Bridegroom tarried, the Text says. They expected his coming, while they were awake, watching and witnessing, praying and looking for him, but He tarried till they all slumbered and slept. And then He came at Midnight, verse 6, at an hour (in a Dispensation) when they looked not for him. Matt. 24:44,50. Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of man cometh. The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of. Matt. 25:13, Watch therefore for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Man cometh. And 1 Thes. 5:2, For your selves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Thirdly, the generality of Virgin-professors will fall into the slumber of a sinful silence, neglect to watch and wait for the spiritual Bridegroom, and grow careless and secure while he tarries.

So long as Virgin-professors will be speaking of Christ's Coming and Kingdom, and talking of his power (as was prophesied the later day Saints shall do, Psal. 145:11) while they are praying continually for the coming and Kingdom of Christ (as He taught his Disciples to pray, Matt. 6:10, Thy Kingdom come), and while they are watching and waiting for the Lord from Heaven in his glorious appearance with Kingly power and Majesty, as the Saints were exhorted by the Apostle to do, 1 Thes. 1:9,10, To serve the living God and to wait for his Son from Heaven, I say, so long as Virgin-professors are so doing, they will not, cannot, shall not slumber nor sleep. But when they begin to be silent in bearing their Testimony for the Kingdom of Christ against the Kingdom of Antichrist, and will not, dare not speak of his glorious coming and Kingdom as the Bridegroom, but give over praying for it, and waiting for him, then they begin to be careless of his coming, and to grow secure, and being at ease in Zion, begin to slumber, and at last some of them fall fast asleep.

Fourthly, some Professors will fall into a deep and deadly sleep of Backsliding and Apostasy. As some of the later day Saints will be shining Believers, Isa. 60:1,2. So some of the Virgin Professors in the last days will prove backsliding formalists and damnable Apostates, and this grand and greatest Apostasy has these four steps or gradations.

1. A liberal inordinate resting and reposing their hearts in and upon worldly contentments.
2. A cooling in their Affections and careless neglect of holy duties, Ordinances and the pure worship of God.
3. A fearlessness of declining and backsliding.
4. A benummed (sic) deadness, hardness, insensibleness, security and contentedness, being at ease and rest, and so fall asleep in that condition, and this will happen a little before the coming of Christ, 2 Thes. 1:2,3. Now we beseech you Brethren by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together in him ----- that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither be spirit nor by word, nor by letters as from us, that the day of Christ is at hand ----- Let no man deceive you by any means, for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. This Apostasy was foretold also by the Apostle Peter in his second Epistle the third Chapter, and the 3rd and 4th verses. Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days Scoffers, walking after their own Lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming; for since the Fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation. The Apostle Paul also foretold Timothy, that in the last days, (which will be perilous times) men eminent for profession, (having the form of Godliness) will deny the power thereof through their own Lusts, 2 Tim. 3:1-5. There are two Expressions used by both those Apostles touching this grand and last Apostasy which does confirm my opinion, that they both prophesied and wrote of the same Apostasy. Paul says, 2 Tim. 3:1, This know also that in the last days. And Peter says, 1 Pet. 3:3, Knowing that first ----- that in the later days, etc..

The Root of this grand and last Apostasy is self-love, and love of pleasures, which the Apostle in his Epistle to Timothy notes to be the chief Character of the formal Professors and Apostates in the last days, 2 Tim. 3:2,4. (Greek here -- page 59) , The men of Name shall be Lovers of their own selves and Lovers of pleasures, more than Lovers of God. These sinful Pleasures, and worldly Contents cause Professors to slumber, and some to fall fast asleep in Apostasy, Self-love is that Root of bitterness out of which those unblessed, yea those cursed Branches of sinful lusts (there mentioned) do sprout and grow, especially Covetousness, Pride and Covenant-breaking. And the Love of Pleasures is the corrupt fountain from whence the bitter waters of those sinful Lusts spring and show.

Let him that has understanding judge what I say. If MEN not profane only but Professors also, not only the men of the world, but also members of Churches, do love themselves more than truth and Righteousness, and love the world more than faith and a good Conscience, yea love their vain sinful delights and pleasures more than God and Jesus Christ, may not those and such as those be ranked and numbered among the Apostates and Backsliders of the last days? By how much the more we see and know men that have been very eminent in profession above many others, and have been highly esteemed in the Churches of Saints, men of name, Chief men among the Brethren, yea among the Elders for knowledge, Gifts, Zeal, etc., who have born a glorious Testimony for Christ against Antichrist; but yet they have afterwards (through love of themselves and love of pleasures and other sinful Lusts) Backslider, Revolted and Apostatized from what they formerly practiced and professed before many Witnesses, may we not conclude them to be among the number of the Apostates of the last days?

And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold the Bridegroom cometh,
go ye out to meet him.

1. Night does Mystically and Metaphorically signify a time of Rest, Ease, and Quietness, also drowsiness, sluggishness, and a lazing disposition; likewise a condition of a sinful careless security, Rom. 13:11,12: And that knowing the time that now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our Salvation nearer than when we believed ----- The Night is far spent, the day is at hand, let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the Armor of light. 1 Thes. 5:2,6,7: For your selves know perfectly, that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night ----- Therefore let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober ----- For they that sleep, sleep in the night, and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. Matt. 24:48-50: But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him and in an hour that he is not aware of.

2. A condition and time of great darkness, discomfort, sore Afflictions and heavy Judgments, Exod. 12:29. And it came to pass, that at Midnight the LORD smote all the first Born in the Land of Egypt. Mich. 3:6,7: Therefore Night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a Vision, and it shall be dark unto you that ye shall not divine, and the Sun shall go down over the Prophets and the day shall be dark over them ----- Then shall the Seers be ashamed, and the Diviners confounded, yea they shall cover their Lips, for there is no Answer of God. Joel 1:13: Gird your selves and lament ye Priests, howl ye Ministers of the Altar: come lie all night in sackcloth ye Ministers of my God, for the Meat-offering and the Drink-offering is withholden from the house of your God.

3. A time of greatest retirement and repose for most serious devotion and spiritual Meditation, and holy Contemplation, Psal. 4:4: Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still, etc. Psal. 16:7: My reins shall instruct me in the night season. Cant. 3:1: By night on my Bed I sought him whom my Soul loveth, I sought him but found him not.

This Midnight Dispensation in the text does Mystically and Metaphorically signify all these three particular conditions at the time of the Bridegroom's coming, with respect to the several sorts of persons, who will be then and in that day concerned therein, viz.

First, the foolish Virgins will then be found in a sluggish disposition and condition of a sinful careless security, so sleepy that their Lamps go out, verse 8. And the Wise Virgins will be too secure and careless at that time, verse 5.

Secondly, worldly professors who are taught to worship God according to the Commandments and precepts of men, and the Inventions and Superstitions of men will then be found under great darkness, discomfort and amazement, Luke 21:25-27: And there shall be signs in the Sun, and in the Moon, and in the Stars, and upon the Earth distress of Nations with perplexity, the Sea and the Waves roaring ----- Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the Earth, for the powers of Heaven shall be shaken ----- And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a Cloud with power and great glory. Because of the sore Afflictions and Righteous Judgments of God, Matt. 24:21,29,30: For then shall be great tribulation such as was not from the beginning of the World to this time, no nor ever shall be -----Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the Sun be darkened, and the Moon shall not give her light, and the Stars shall fall from Heaven, and the power of the Heavens shall be shaken ----- And then shall appear the Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven, and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory.

Thirdly, there will be some, a few, a small Remnant of Virgin Saints who will accompany the Bridegroom when he comes, even in the midnight dispensation, and they are those hundred forty-four thousand who have their Father's name written in their foreheads, Rev. 14:1-5, being in their retirement, repose and secret devotion formerly sealed for the Servants of God, Rev. 7:3,4. And now come with the Bridegroom and shall stand with the Lamb upon Mount Zion being without fault before the Throne of God.

The question is, 1. What Cry this was? 2. Who made this Cry? 3. Who heard this Cry?

I answer the Greek word does both here and in many other places of Scripture signify a very loud, fierce and vehement Cry, as Acts 7:57: They cried out with a loud voice; Acts 19:28. As an Herald at Arms cries out with a loud voice when he proclaims an Edict, or when the common Cryer makes proclamation, Rev. 7:2: He cried with a loud voice, etc. And Rev. 10:3, Rev. 19:17.

I answer, either the LORD himself, or the Ministers of Christ, or the people of God. For this Cry is either by Preaching the coming of Christ publicly, Isa. 58:1: Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a Trumpet, etc.; Matt. 24:14. And the Gospel of the Kingdom shall be proclaimed or preached publicly (Greek) in all the inhabited world, or else a Cry raised by the voice of a great number of the Saints and Servants of God in the Temple of God that was opened in Heaven, Isa. 66:6: A voice of the LORD, a voice from the Temple, after the Resurrection of the two prophetical Witnesses of Christ which the Beast had killed, compare Rev. 11:7,11,12,17,19. And they heard a great voice from Heaven, saying unto them, come up hither, verse 12, with Rev. 19:1,4-9. And a voice comes out of the Throne, and I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, saying Alleluia, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him, for the Marriage of the Lamb is come. Blessed are they that are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. These are the true sayings of God, or by the Lord himself, Joel 3:16. Jehovah also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the Heaven and the Earth shall shake, read Hag. 2:6,7 and Heb. 12:26,27 and verse 25, see that ye refuse not him that speaketh from Heaven.

I answer, all the Virgins both wise and foolish heard this Cry, The Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him, as appears in the next verse. For they all (being awakened by that loud Cry) rose and trimmed their Lamps, verse 7, and probably there were many others, even great multitudes that heard this Cry or Proclamation of the Bridegroom's coming, who were glad and rejoiced that the Marriage of the Lamb was come, and that does appear by what is prophesied and recorded, Rev. 19:1-9.

The sum and substance of this Cry is contained in these words, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him, wherein are three things to be observed, viz.

1. The Attention, Behold.
2. The Assertion, The Bridegroom cometh.
3. The Obligation or Duty enjoined and commanded, Go ye out to meet him..

When God would have some wonderful and glorious thing made known unto the world and unto his people, He stirs up their Attention by this word, Behold, Isa. 65:1; Zeph. 3:19; 1 Cor. 15:21; 1 John 3:1; Rev. 15:5 and 21:5, especially when God speaks of his Son Jesus Christ, Isa. 28:16; John 1:29; Rev. 1:7, 16:15, 22:7. Behold he cometh, etc. Behold I come quickly. So in the text, Behold the Bridegroom cometh. This is a matter which is worthy of, and calls for the Churches', Ministers' and Saints' Attention.

It's not said HE will come, though that is true, Heb. 10:37. Yet a little while and HE that shall come, will come, and will not tarry. But HE cometh. HE is upon his March, Rev. 19:11-15. HE has been coming a great while, HE went forth long ago, Rev. 6:2 and now He is very near even at the Door ready to enter into the Bride-chamber. Only HE stands and stays at the Door till the Bride have made her self ready, Rev. 19:7,8. Verse 10 of this chapter, And they that were ready went in with him to the Marriage and the Door was shut.

Seeing that many both Learned and Godly men have been mistaken in their Opinions about the coming of Christ as was hinted in the Expositions of the former Verse, it concerns the Churches of Saints, the Ministers of Christ, and all sanctified Believers to search the holy Scriptures and pray that God will by his holy Spirit open the Scriptures to us, and open our understanding thereby in this his coming.

And now let not the Churches, Ministers, nor any of the Saints be offended with me for showing my Opinion, touching this coming of Christ and the Scripture grounds and Reasons for the same, which I humbly offer with all submission unto their Judgment.

I do believe and am persuaded that the coming of Christ (spoken of in this Parable, verses 6 and 10) is not the coming of Christ in his own person upon the Earth (though I do believe Christ will come the second time in his own person upon the Earth, Heb. 9:28, Zech. 3:4,5) but this is his virtual, spiritual, powerful and glorious coming in his Saints and Sanction as the Bridegroom of his Church, the new Jerusalem, who shall also come down from God out of Heaven, prepared as a Bride adorned for her husband. This is our David's Mystical Kingdom on Earth among his Saints, when HE shall be King of all the Earth, and all the Kingdoms of this world shall be Christ's. And when the Lord's redeemed Ones, whom HE has made Kings and Priests to God, shall have the Kingdom and Dominion under the whole Heaven given to them, and they shall reign on Earth.

And the reasons grounded on Scripture are as follows. 1. Negatively. 2. Affirmatively.

That the coming of Christ spoken of in the 6th and 10th verses of this Parable is not the coming of Christ in his own person upon the Earth.

First, because at the personal coming of Christ on Earth, (called his appearing the Second time, Heb. 9:28) all his Saints shall come with him, Zech. 14:5, And Jehovah my God shall come and all the Saints with thee. 1 Thes. 3:13, At the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his Saints. The living Bodies of the Saints shall be changed and glorified. And the Bodies of the Saints deceased shall then be raised and also glorified, Phil. 3:20,21, For our Conversation is in Heaven, from whence also we look for the Savior our Lord Jesus Christ ------ who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. 1 Thes. 4:14-17, For if we believe, That Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep ------ For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the Trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first ------ Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. But there will not be such a general and Physical Resurrection at the coming of Christ as the Bridegroom, for then the living Saints only shall enter into the Bride-Chamber, and those wise Virgins who never came personally into the Kingdom of the Father in Heaven shall be admitted into the Kingdom of the Son on Earth, Rev. 3:21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne; Even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne, which Christ himself expounds, Rev. 2:26 saying, To him will I give power over the Nations, Even as (or the same power that ) I received of the Father.

Secondly, Because at the personal coming of Christ on Earth, will be the Universal Physical Resurrection of all that are dead (and the Physical change of all their Bodies that are then alive, 1 Cor. 15:51,52. Behold I shew you a Mystery we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed ina moment in the twinkling of an Eye at the last Trump (for the Trumpets shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed). Which Resurrection Christ in John 6:39,40,44 three times together testifies shall be at the last day, and Matt. 25:31,32, When the Son of man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him, then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory, compared with Rev. 20:11-13. And I saw a great white throne and him that sate on it, from whose face the Earth and the Heaven fled away, and there was found no more place for them. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God, and the Books were opened, and another Book was opened which is the Book of life, and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the Book according to their works ------ And the Sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them, and they were judged every man according to his Works; together with the eternal Judgment, Matt. 25:33,34,46; 2 Thes. 1:7-10; 2 Tim. 4:1; Jude 14,15; Rev. 20:12.

Thirdly, Because when Christ comes virtually and spiritually as the Bridegroom, then will begin the times of the Restitution of all things. Then God will restore our Judges as at the first, and our Counselors as at the beginning, Isa. 1:25-27. Then Christ will restore Israel, and restore the Kingdom to Israel, Mich. 4:7,8. Even the first Dominion shall come to the Daughter of Zion, the Kingdom shall come to the Daughter of Jerusalem. Then Christ will make all things new, Rev. 21:5. But when Christ shall come personally upon the Earth, (as the judge of quick and dead) then will be the dissolution of the material Heaven and Earth, and the final Consumption and Conflagration of all things, 2 Pet. 3:4,7,12. When the Heavens being on fire shall be dissolved. Now consider that this great Desolation of all things, yea of the material Heavens and Earth (which the Scripture testifies will be at Christ's second coming), cannot be at the beginning of his Kingdom here on Earth for above a thousand years, after that time Gog and Magog will be gathered together and compass the Camp of the Saints about and the beloved City, Rev. 20:4,5,7,8,9.

Does not this Opinion exempt and exclude Christ from Rule and Sovereignty in his Monarchical Kingdom on Earth, contrary to Rev. 20:4, They lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years?

No. Consider first, Christ may be said to be with a person or people, and they with him virtually by his Spirit and power or his powerful spiritual presence. Isa. 57:15; 2 Cor. 6:16; Rev. 2:1; Rom. 6:4; Col. 2:12,13. As it is said, Jer. 8:9, Is not the LORD in Zion? Is not her King in Her? though not personally, but spiritually.

Secondly, as Christ is said to be in his Mystical Kingdom the Church of God here on Earth, where his Laws, his Statutes and his Ordinances are dispensed in his Name, and by the power of his holy Spirit; even so will he be in his Monarchical Kingdom, the throne of his Father David here on Earth, Luke 1:32,33. And the Lord God shall give unto him the Throne of his Father David. And he shall reign over the House of Jacob for ever, and of his Kingdom there shall be no end; not personally at the beginning of it, but virtually by his Laws, etc.

Did not the Caesar’s and Roman Senate govern the world by their Laws and Edicts, and by those Kings and Governors of Provinces whom they Commissioned and made Rulers for them? Is not the King of Spain said to Rule and Reign in those parts of America, and in other parts of the World, (which he or his Ancestors conquered) by his Laws civil and ecclesiastical, although he himself was never present there in his own person? And does not the Pope reign over the Kings and Kingdoms of the Earth, who have agreed and given their Kingdom to the Beast, Rev. 17:17,18, though he was never personally in those Kingdoms, but gives Commissions to his Kings, his Nuntios, his Cardinals, and his Prelates to rule in his Name and by his Laws and Edicts, Canons and Constitutions to govern the people in those his Kingdoms?

So shall Christ reign over all the Nations and Kingdoms of the World whom he shall Conquer, and they shall become his, Rev. 11:5 (sic). And HE shall be King of all the Earth, Zech. 14:9. And God shall give him the Throne of his Father David, Luke 1:32,33. And the Judgment shall be given to the Saints of the most high, and they shall possess the Kingdom, and govern the Nations by Christ's Laws, Dan. 7:14,21,27, and in his Name, and by his Commission with his holy Spirit and power, and in great glory. Isa. 60:1,2,3,7,11,12,13,14,15: Arise, shine, for thy Light is come and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee ----- The Sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee, and all they that despised thee, shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet, and they shall call thee the City of the LORD, the Zion of the holy one of Israel ----- Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal Excellency and Joy of many Generations: from the beginning of the thousand years Reign, Rev. 20:4, until the end thereof, which is Christ's Davidical and Monarchical Kingdom.

And after that Christ has put down all rule, all authority and all power that are his Enemy's, by the hands of his Saints, who shall bind Kings in Chains and Nobles in Fetters of Iron, and execute the Judgment written, This honor have all the Saints, Psal. 149:7-9. Then will the Lord Jesus Christ himself come in his own person, and all his holy Angels and Saints shall attend him, Matt. 25:31,32. When the Son of Man shall come in his glory and all the holy Angels with him, then shall he sit upon the Throne of his glory ----- And before him shall be gathered all Nations, and he shall separate them one from another, as a Shepherd divideth his Sheep from the Goats. Then shall he sit upon the Throne of his Glory, and the Saints shall sit upon thrones with Christ, Matt. 19:28. And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me inthe Regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit on the Throne of his Glory: Ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve Tribes of Israel. Rev. 3:21: To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my Throne, even also as I overcame and am set down with my Father in his Throne.

This personal coming of Christ had its typical vision and mystical appearance at his Transfiguration, Matt. 17:1,2,9. And after six days, Jesus taketh Peter, James and John his Brethren, and bringeth them up into an high Mountain, and was transfigured before them, and his face did shine as the Sun, and his raiment was white as the Light. And as they came down from the Mountain, Jesus charged them saying, Tell the Vision to no man until the Son of Man rise again from the dead. Those Apostles Peter, James and John his Brother, were they of whom Christ spoke, Matt. 16:27,28. For the Son of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father, with his Angels, and then he shall reward every man according to his works ----- Verily I say unto you, there be some standing here which shall not taste of death till they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom. And Peter being one of those three, bare his Testimony and Record thereof, 2 Pet. 1:16,17,18. For we have not followed cunningly devised Fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were Eyewitnesses of his Majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased ----- And this Voice which came from Heaven we heard when we were with him in the holy Mount. And it shall be visible indeed, Matt. 24:27, For as the Lightening cometh out of the East, and shineth even unto the West, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be, Acts 1:11, He shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven. And very glorious, for Christ shall come in the Glory of his Father, Mark 8:38. In his own glory, and his Father's, Luke 9:26. In the glory of the holy Angels also, Matt. 25:31 and likewise in the glory of all his Saints, 2 Thes. 1:7-10.

Then shall Christ the King of Saints, the King of Zion, and the King of Nations be admired of all them that believe, 2 Thes. 1:10. And praised, saying, Who would not fear Thee O King of Nations, Jer. 10:7,10. The Blessed and only Potentate, the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, 1 Tim. 6:15. Then also shall the Saints be glorified, Phil. 3:20,21. For, our Conversation is in Heaven, from whence we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ ----- Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body, etc. 1 John 3:2, Behold now we are the Sons of God, and it doth not appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is: and Rewarded, Rev. 22:12, Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me. Matt. 25:34, Come ye blessed of my Father, receive the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World.

Then wicked men and wicked Angels shall by Christ and his Saints be judged according to their Deeds, 1 Cor. 6:2, Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the World? verse 3, Know ye not that we shall judge Angels? and 2 Tim. 4:1, I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing, and his Kingdom. And then shall Christ deliver up the Kingdom to God the Father, 1 Cor. 15:24,28. That as Christ is now All and in All, Col. 3:11, so God the Father then shall be All in All, 1 Cor. 15:28. Thus much negatively.

That the coming of Christ in the 6th and 10th verses of this chapter is his virtual, spiritual, powerful and glorious appearance in his Saints and Sanction (As the Bridegroom of his Church the New Jerusalem, the holy City, the general Assembly and Church of the first born, written in Heaven, who also shall come down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her husband) and in his Davidical Kingdom on Earth.

For proof of this my opinion, search those places of holy Scripture, Isa. 60:2,3,7,13; Psal. 110:1,3; 2 Thes. 1:10; Rev. 14:1-5; Heb. 12:23; Rev. 21:1-5. Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the Glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. ----- For behold darkness shall cover the Earth and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee and his glory shall be seen upon thee ----- And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and Kings to the brightness of thy rising ----- All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the Rams of Nebajoth shall minister unto thee, they shall come up with acceptance on mine Altar, And I will beautify the house of my glory; the Glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree and the Box together to beautify the place of my Sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine Enemies thy footstool. Thy People shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the Beauties of holiness from the Womb of the morning, thou hast the dew of thy youth ----- When he shall come to be glorified in his Father, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day ----- And I looked and lo a Lamb on the Mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty-four thousand, having his Father's Name written in their foreheads ----- And I heard a voice from Heaven as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder; and I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their harps. And they sung as it were a new Song before the Throne, and before the four Beasts, and the Elders, and woman could learn that song, but the hundred and forty and four thousand which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which are not defiled with Women, for they are Virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whither soever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God, and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the Throne of God. To the General Assembly and Church of the first Born which are written in Heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the Spirit of just men made perfect. And I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth, for the first Heaven, and the first Earth passed away, and there was no more Sea. And I John saw the holy City New Jerusalem coming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband. And I heard a great Voice out of Heaven, saying, Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away. And he that sate upon the Throne said, Behold I make all things new, And he said unto me write, for these words are true and faithful. Read Isa. chapter 62, particularly verse 5. Christ not in his own person, but by his substitutes, does marry his Church, so shall thy sons marry thee.

The Virgins went out before and that of their own accord, and very early too. But now they are called out, and that by a loud voice, and are commanded, Go ye out to meet him. They who at first were so forward, are now at last so backward, that they must be provoked, stirred up, yea roused out of their slumbering, sleepy, careless security, and commanded if not compelled to go out again to meet the Bridegroom.

The Spouse of Christ said within her self, Cant. 3:2, I will rise now, I will seek him whom my soul loveth. And she said to her Beloved, Come my Beloved, Let us go up early to the Vineyards, there will I give thee my Loves, Cant. 7:11,12. But for all this her fervency, she cooled in her spiritual Affections towards Christ, was sleepy and indisposed for spiritual communion with her Beloved, she framed excuses, being lazy and loth to open the door, though she heard him call her, and knew his voice, Cant. 5:2,3. I sleep but my heart waketh, it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me my Sister, my Love, my Dove, my Undefiled, for my head is filled with the dew, and my Locks with the drops of the night. And I have put off my Coat how shall I put it on, I have washed my feet how shall I defile them.

It has been hinted in the exposition of the first verse, in what respects the Virgins went out at first to meet the Bridegroom. Let us consider what is further intended and here Commanded them in these words,

By going out again to meet the Bridegroom, we may here understand three things,

1. A Rising and shaking off all security, carelessness and indisposition, to watch and wait for the appearance of Christ, Rom. 13:11-14. And that knowing the time that now is, it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we Believed ----- The night is far spent, the day is at hand, Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the whole armor of God. Let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness, in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to fulfil the Lust thereof.

2. A recovering themselves out of their Backsliding and Apostasizing condition, by Prayer, Repentance, and Reformation, Jer. 3:12,13,14,22. Go and proclaim these words towards the North and say, Return thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord, I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you, for I am merciful saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. ----- Only acknowledge thou thine Iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice saith the LORD. Turn O backsliding Children saith the LORD, for I am married unto you, and I will take you one of a City, and two of a Family, and I will bring you to Zion. ----- Return ye Backsliding Children, and I will heal your Backslidings. Behold we come unto thee, for thou art the LORD our God, Hos. 14:1-7. Read the whole Chapter.

3. A preparing to meet the Lord, Amos 4:12, 2 Chron. 30:19. Prepare to meet thy God O Israel. ----- That prepareth his heart to seek God the LORD God of his Fathers, though he be not cleansed according to the Purification of his Sanctuary. Luke 1:17, To make ready a people prepared for the Lord. So did those Virgins, the foolish seemingly, the wise sincerely, verse 7, Then all those Virgins arose and trimmed their Lamps.

There will be a Midnight Dispensation of Mystical and Spiritual darkness upon Professors, Isa. 60:2. Darkness shall cover the Earth and gross darkness the people, etc. Distress and perplexity, and great Tribulation upon the Inhabitants of the Earth, Luke 21:25-27. There shall be upon the Earth distress of Nations with perplexity; Men's hearts failing them for fear, etc., Matt. 24:21,29. And too great security, formality and drowsiness upon some of the wise Virgins, sanctified Believers, before the coming of the Lord Jesus in his Kingdom here on Earth, Matt. 26:40. What, could you not watch with me one hour? 41, Watc