them but the Father, who as yet has not revealed them to his Angels, nor to me my felf. Since then thefe Misfortunes draw near, and you know not the very time in which they fhall happen, take great care not to indulge your felves in Drunkenness and Luxury at the approach of thefe perillous times, neither be fo far diftracted with anxious care after the concerns of this Life, as to neglect the performance of whatever I have enjoin'd, left thefe great Evils furprize you unawares, and overwhelm you on the fudden. All those who have made no ufe of thefe my Admonitions, in which I have forewarn'd them of the impending Mischiefs, fhall be involv'd in them as wild Beafts are intangled in the Toils laid for them. Be vigilant therefore and conftant in your Prayers to God, that you may then appear unblamable before the Tribunal of him who is now efteem'd as a vulgar Perfon, when he fhall call the Jews to Judgment. Beware therefore (as I have just now advis'd you) be vigilant and earnest in your Prayers to God, that you may be fecure under his Almighty Protection, when thefe Evils fhall be pour'd out on the Jews, especially confidering you know not how foon they may happen. Mmm 2

For

MATTHEW.

CHA P. XXIV.

37 But as the days of Noe were, fo fhall alfo the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the floud, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entred into the ark,

39 And knew not until the floud came, and took them all. away; fo fhall also the coming of the Son of man be.

40 Then fhall two be in the field, the one fhall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women fhall be grinding at the mill, the one fhall be taken, and the other left.

For I fhall come unexpectedly to execute Vengeance on thofe who are intirely Bufied in the Affairs of this Life, who give no credit to my Sayings, and contemn me as a vulgar perfon, by fending the Armies of the Gentiles against them as Executioners of my Wrath, who will overwhelm them with Deftruction as general as that wherewith the Deluge in the days of Noah cover'd those who derided him and his Admonitions. For as the men of that Age liv'd in the greatest negligence, and intermarried without the leaft apprehenfion of the Calamity that befel them, til the day that Noah enter'd into the Ark, and the Waters were poured out, in which all Mankind was destroy'd except those that were in the Ark: I fay, as thofe men knew not of the approaching danger till they all began to be swallowed up by that univerfal Deluge; fo neither will the Jews be aware of the general Ruin that fhall opprefs them. Of two that are in the Country one only fhall efcape, according to the different places they flee to: Of two Women that are grinding, the one thall be involv'd in that Deftruction, but the other escape, namely, for having obferv'd my Admonitions.

CHAP.

MATTHEW. i

CHAP. XXIV. 43 But know this, that if the good man of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have fuffered his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye alfo ready for in fuch an hour as you think not, the Son of man cometh.

45 Who then is a faithful and wife fervant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his houfhold, to give them meat in due feafon?

46 Bleffed is that fervant, whom his Lord when he cometh, fhall find fo doing.

47 Verily I fay unto you, that he fhall make him ruler. over all his goods.

Upon occafion of what was faid in the preceding Chapter, Jefus commends Vigi lance, that at his coming, whether to punish the Jews or judg the World, he may find them addicted to Virtue, and making a right ufe of the Benefits they bad received from God.

ESUS having faid these things referring to the Deftruction of Ferufalem, dife cours'd to them concerning Watchfulnels, and the care good men should have to fecure themselves from the impending Ruin, by avoiding those Vices which were the cause of it, especially confidering withal how uncertain the time of the laft Judgment is. That Master of a Family, faid he, who knew for certain the hour in which the Thief defign'd to come, would undoubtedly watch till that hour, and not fuffer his Houfe to be broke open. Wherefore make it your bufinefs to continue in a fteddy courfe of Virtue, fince you know not the time of my coming either to execute Vengeance on the obftinate Jews, or to pass Judgment upon the whole Race of Men. That Servant only can juftly expect to be advanc'd above his Fellowfervants, whom his Mafter, tho unexpected by him, at his coming fhall find faithfully and diligently imployed in his Vocation. He will be deem'd worthy of fa vor, and have the administration of all his Mafter's Goods committed to his

care,

care. But if a flothful Servant, prefuming on his Mafter's abfence, as being gone a far journy, fhall indulge his Sloth, and tyrannically abuse his Fellow-fervants, fpending his own time in Gluttony and Drunkenness, his Mafter will return in a day and hour he is not aware of, and condemn him to the Mines and Quarries, where nothing is to be heard but gnashing of Teeth, and the Lamentations of Hypocrites punith'd with continual Labor. Do not imitate fo dangerous an Example, but remain ftedfaft in a virtuous courfe of Life, fince you know no more the time of my return than that Servant did of his Lord's, whether at the third or fourth Watch; left when I come I find you sleeping, that is, negligent of my Commands, and living according to your own ungovern'd Fancies, and you thereby render your felves obnoxious to that Punishment which will be inflicted upon the flothful and negligent. Thefe Directions concerning a watchful Diligence belong not only to you, but to all that shall believe in me.

This Doctrin Jefus illuftrated in the following Parables. The fame will happen to thofe that are in purfuit of Celeftial Happinefs, as befel ten Virgins invited to a

nuptial

MATTHEW.

MARK

LUKE.

Јони.

CHAP. XXV.

which took their lamps, 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 oy! with them:

4 But the wife took oyl in their veffels with their lamps.

5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all flumbred and flept.

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

7 Then all thofe virgins arofe, and trimmed their lamps.

8 And the foolish faid unto the wife, Give us of your oyl, for our lamps are gone out.

9 But the wife answered, faying, Not fo; left there be no enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that fell, and buy for your felves.

10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready, went in

nuptial Feast. These were obliged to go forth and meet the Bridegroom, that they might attend him home, and partake of the Banquet: Accordingly they all met at the appointed time and place, being each provided with a Lamp. Five of them were fo careful as to provide themfelves with Oil befides what they had in their Lamps: the others indeed brought their Lamps ready lighted, but forgot the Oil that was neceffary to preferve them fo, in cafe the Bridegroom tarried longer than they might expect. The Bridegroom delaying his coming longer than ordinary, they all fell asleep, but about the third Watch were awakened by an Alarm from the Meffengers who were fent to warn all to come forth immediatly, and meet the Bridegroom. Hereupon they rofe, and began to trim their Lamps, but the foolish Virgins perceiving theirs almoft extinguifh'd for want of Oil, befought the reft to lend them fome, who replied, they could not part with any for fear they might want themselves, but their beft way would be to repair speedily, and purchase a fufficient quantity. The foolish Virgins did as they were bid, but in the mean time comes the Bridegroom; when thofe others who had provided against fuch an Acci