more than is his duty to do by way of preparation for another world. For when the foolish virgins would have begged of the wise some oil for their lamps, the wise answered, Not So, lest there be not enough for us and you. It was only the foolish virgins, who, in the time of their extremity, and when they were conscious that they wanted what was absolutely necessary to qualify them for admission into heaven, had entertained this idle conceit, that there might be an overplus of grace and merit in others sufficient to supply their want But the wise knew of none they had to spars they supposed all that they had done, or coun possibly do, to be little enough to qualify thei for the glorious reward of eternal life: and im this point they had been plainly instructed the Bridegroom himself: But ye, when ye done all, say, we are unprofitable servants, and have done nothing but what was our duty to do. th

have v

The inference from all this shall be the ap-ou plication which our Saviour makes of this o parable: Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of Manv cometh; as if he had said, the design of thist. parable is to instruct us, that we ought to be s continually vigilant, and always upon our guard, and in a constant readiness and preparation to meet the Bridegroom, because we know not the time of his coming to judgment; nor yet, which will be of the same

THE TEN VIRGINS.

193

do any of us Consequence and concern to us, know the precise time of our own death. Either of these may happen at any time, and come when we least expect it; and therefore we should make the best and speediest provision that we can for another world; and should be continually upon our watch, and trimming our lamps, that we may not be surprised, either by our own particular death, or by the general judgment of the world; because the Son of Man will come in a day when we bok not for him, and at an hour when we are

#

aware.

More particularly we should take up a pret and effectual resolution not to delay our epentance and the reformation of our lives; dt we may not have that great work to do when we are not fit to do any thing; no, not to dispose of our temporal concerns. that, alas! be done in a few moments which ought to have been the care and endeavour of our whole lives?

Can

And we should provide store of oil in our vessels, wherewith to supply our lamps, that they may burn bright to the last; I mean, we should improve the grace which we receive in baptism, by abounding in the fruits of the spirit, and in all the substantial virtues of a good life, that so an entrance may be administered to us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

By this means, when we are called to meet the Bridegroom, we shall not be put to those miserable shifts that the foolish virgins were driven to; which will all fail us when we come to depend upon them. And though the dying man may possibly support himself with these false comforts for a little while, yet when the short delusion is over, which will be as soon as ever he has stepped into the other world, he will to his everlasting confusion and trouble find, that he shall never see the kingdom of God.

Lastly, We should take great care that we do not extinguish our lamps, by quitting the profession of our holy religion upon any temptation of advantage, or for fear of any loss or suffering whatsoever. This trial will call for all our faith and patience, all our courage and constancy: here we had need to gird up the loins of our minds, to summon all our forces, and to put on the whole armour of God, that we may be able to stand fast in an evil day, and when we have done all to stand.

And now, my brethren, to use the words of St. Peter, I testify unto you, that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand: the Protestant reformed religion, which we in this nation profess, is the very gospel of Christ, the true ancient Christianity.

And if we have any regard for our religion, let us resolve to practise its rules, and thereby show our love to it; as our Saviour would have

us; and to testify our love to it, in the same way that our Saviour would have us show our love to him, by keeping his commandments.

I will conclude all with the Apostle's exhortation: only let your conversation be as becometh the gospel of Christ; that is, chiefly and above all, take care to lead lives suitable to the Christian religion.

Now unto him that is able to establish you in the gospel, and to keep you from falling; and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy: to the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever.

SERMON XIII.

THE CARE OF OUR SOULS, THE ONE THING
NEEDFUL.

LUKE X. 42.

But one thing is needful.

FROM these words the observation I shall make is this, that the care of religion and of our souls is the one thing necessary, and what every man is concerned in the first place, and above all other things to regard. And in speaking to this weighty argument, I shall endeavour,

I. To show wherein the care of religion and of our souls consists.

II. To convince men of the necessity of tak ing this care.

1. I shall show wherein the care of religion and of our souls consists.

And this it does, first, in the distinct knowledge, and in the firm belief of those things which are necessary to be known and believed by us, in order to our eternal salvation. For, knowledge of the necessary principles and duties of religion is the foundation of all good practice, which is the life of religion. And this knowledge our blessed Saviour calls eternal life, because it is so fundamentally necessary` to attain it. This is life eternal, says he, to know thee the only true God, and him whom thou hast sent, Jesus Christ; that is, to be rightly instructed with regard to the only true God, and his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Under which two general heads are comprehended all the necessary principles of natural, and of the Christian religion. And the language of the apostle is, Without faith it is impossible, &c.

2. The due care of our souls consists in the frequent examination of our lives, and in a sincere repentance for all our errors and miscarriages; in a more particular and deep humiliation and repentance for deliberate and wilful sins, so far as we can call them to remembrance; and in a general repentance for