petites and passions-their sincere endeavour, and the constant practice of holiness and virtue in their lives; and therefore they had much rather have something that might palliate and excuse their evil inclinations and practices, than be obliged to retrench and renounce them: and rather than amend their lives, they would make compensation to Almighty God in some other way.

This hath been the folly of mankind in all ages to defeat the great end of religion, by substituting something else in the place of it, which, as they think, may serve the turn as well; having the appearance of as much devotion and respect towards God, and really costing them more money and pains, than that which he requires of them.

From this false principle, religion hath ever been apt to degenerate, both among Jews and Christians, into external and little observances; into a great zeal for lesser things, with a total neglect of weightier; in a word, into infinite superstitions, and an arrogant conceit of the extraordinary righteousness and merit of these things.

And it is no wonder that such easy ways of religion are very grateful to the corrupt nature of man. The great difficulty is, to believe that things so apparently absurd can be true, and to persuade ourselves that we can impose upon God by such pretences of service and

obedience, as no wise prince or father upon earth is to be deluded withal by his subjects or children. We ought to have worthier thoughts of God, and to consider that he should be served by his creatures in his own way, and will make them happy upon his own terms; and that obedience to what he commands is better and more acceptable to hin than any other sacrifice that we can offer; and likewise that as he is infinitely wise and good, the laws which he hath given us to live by, are therefore much more likely to bring us to happiness than any inventions or devices of

our own.

Secondly, I observe, that even the better and more considerate sort of Christians are not so careful as they ought, to prepare themselves for death and judgment; Whilst the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. Even the disciples of our Saviour, whilst he was yet personally present with them, and after a particular charge given them from his own mouth, watch and pray, lest ye enter into temptation; yet did not keep that guard upon themselves as to watch with him one hour. In many things, says St. James, we offend all; even the best of us: and who is there that doth not, some time or other remit of his vigilancy and care, so as to lie open to temptation? But then the difference between the wise and foolish virgins was this, that though they both

slept, yet the wise did not let their lamps go out; they never quitted their profession, nor did they extinguish it by a bad life; and though, when the Bridegroom came suddenly upon them, they were not so actually prepared to meet him by a continual vigilancy, yet they were habitually prepared by the good disposition of their minds, and the general course of a holy life. Their lamps might burn dim for want of constant trimming, but they had oil in their vessels to supply their lamps, which the foolish virgins had taken no care to provide. But surely the greatest wisdom is to maintain a continual watchfulness, that so we may not be surprised by the coming of the Bridegroom, and be in confusion when death or judgment shall overtake us. And blessed are those servants, and wise indeed, whose lamps always burn bright, and whom the Bridegroom, when he comes, shall find watching, and in a fit posture and preparation to meet him.

Thirdly, I observe likewise how little is to be done by us to any good purpose, in this great work of preparation, when it is put off to the last. The parable represents to us at large what a sad confusion the foolish virgins were in at the sudden coming of the Bridegroom, when they found themselves altogether unprovided of that which was necessary to trim their lamps, and to put them in

a posture to meet the Bridegroom; when they wanted what was necessary at that very instant, but could not be provided in an instant: At midnight there was a cry made, Behold! the Bridegroom cometh, go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps, that is, went about it as well as they could; and the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.

At midnight there was a cry made; that is, at the most dismal and unseasonable time of all other; when they were fast asleep, and suddenly awakened in great terror; when the summons was so very short, that they had neither leisure to consider what was fit to be done, nor time to do it in.

And such is the case of those who put off their repentance and preparation for another world, till they are surprised by death, or judgment. The parable indeed seems more particularly to point at our Lord's coming to judgment; but the case is much the same as to those who are surprised by sudden death; such as gives them but little, or not sufficient time for so great a work; because such as death leaves them, judgment will certainly find them.

And what a miserable confusion must they be in, who are thus surprised either by the one or the other? How unfit should we be, if the general judgment of the world should

suddenly come upon us, to meet that great Judge at his coming, if we have made no preparation for it before that time? What shall we then be able to do in that great and universal consternation? when the Son of Man shall appear in the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory; when the sun shall be darkened and the moon turned into blood, and all the powers of heaven shall be shaken; when all nature shall feel such violent convulsions; when the heavens shall be shrivelled up as a scroll when it is rolled together, and the earth shall be tossed from its centre, and every mountain and island shall be removed? What thoughts can the wisest men then have about them? or, if they could have any, what time will there then be to put them in execution? When they shall see the angel that standeth upon the sea and upon the earth, lifting up his hand to heaven, and declaring by him that liveth for ever and ever, that time shall be no longer; Rev. x. 5, 6. As this dreadful day is described in the Revelations (Chap. vi. 15.) where sinners are represented at the appearance of this great judge, not as flying to God in hopes of mercy, but as flying from him in utter despair. The kings of the earth, and the great men, and the mighty men, and the rich men, and the great captains, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the earth, and said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that