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But tho' we may thus underftand it, yet here, by the Poor may more properly be meant the Poor in Spirit, not in Wealth; and by the Weak, not those Disabled in Bodily Strength, but in the proud Opinion and Confidence of themfelves: And by the Blind, not thofe Defective in their outward Sight, but Unskill'd in the World's Politicks, and a forry Craft: And by the Lame, not fuch as faulter in their Feet ; But are Crippled in their Affections to the things on Earth. To fpeak out plainly; The Poor admitted here to the Lord's Feaft, are fuch as be Oppofite to those 1.Tim. 6. 9. That will be rich. (Are violently fet upon it.) And tho' they have Money, Tis not to Hoard up, or to confume in Extravagance and Vanity; but to Lay out in the works of Piety, Mercy, and Charity. Like the Bleffed Man, Pfal. 112.9. That hath Difperfed and given to the Poor; and bis Righteousness endures for ever. The Infirm are fuch as do not Truft nor Glory in their own Virtue or SufficienThe Blind are those that Believe what they do not fee, concerning God, and the Eternal Glorious Enjoyments, and the Torturing endless Punishments of the other World. And fo, They are not wedded to the Earth, nor make much Reckoning of any Sublunary thing; But have their Hearts there fixed, where true Foys are

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to be found. And a happy Lameness it is, under which fuch Cripples may make bold to Aspire after the Lord's Feaft, whofe right Foot is Longer than the Left; i. e. Their Love to God, and the Eternal Good, far exceeding that to their Flesh, and to fuch Goods, as are but Earthly and Transitory.

Now, let us hear the Determination of the great Master of the Feaft, upon fuch as were fo fottifh and void of all good Senfe, as to turn their Backs upon it. Ver. 24. Ifay unto you, That none of them who were Bidden fhall Taste of my Supper. The Lord knows, how quickly they that Cleave only to things Temporal, ́and Defpife, as Fantastic, all that is to. Come, fhall put of their Bodies, and find no farther Ufe of their Fleshly Senfes: And as foon as all that they Admir'd on Earth, is utterly gone; 'Tis not poffible to think how keenly they will then Defire, what before they did nothing but Difdain. Pfal. 59. 15. At Evening they'll Wander up and down for Meat, and make a noife like a Dog about the City; pinch'd with Want and Hunger. The Day of this Life being ended, They would then be Converted. But the Repentance comes too Late, when the Space given for it is paft. They'd be glad then even of the Crumbs that are the

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Dog's fhare: But none of 'em fhall Tafte of the Supper.

O that thou didst but know, Soul of man, what Horror is in this Doom, Thou fhalt not Taste of my Supper! O that thou could'ft but conceive, How Raging will be that Hunger of the Miferable; and how fweet the Refreshment, of which they'll be deprived for ever! What then would they give to Taste that, which they fo ardently Defire, but can never Obtain Tho' they had all the World to give, and would moft gladly Renounce the whole for it?

And if this be fo, O Delay not to Turn, while there is Time and Space to Repent. Now Long after the Heavenly Supper: Now Hunger, Not like the filthy Ravenous Dogs, who in Devouring, mind nothing but the Pleafing of their Throat and Belly; But as Men of Rational Senfe, Long for the Entertainments of Eternal Life; For the Bread of Angels, and the Hidden. Manna, Rev. 2: 17. which God himself enjoys from Everlafting to Everlafting. So let us Live here in our Exile, as not to fall in Love with it: But Groan after our Country; To which when once we reach, we fhall not need to Range about the City; But enter the Gate, and be Admitted to that Supper, whereof we fhall partake

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with infinite Satisfaction, and the Plea fure that will Endure for ever.

CHAP. VI.

Of the Marriage and Virgins.

TH

HE Laft Parable is that, Mat. 25. Where the Saints Felicity is refembled to the Nuptials, unto which were invited Ten Virgins: Of which Five were Wife, and Five Foolish. And what we are here to enquire after, is, The Bridegroom, the Bride, the Marriage, and the Qualifi cation to fit one for Fruition.

That our Lord Chrift is the Bridegroom, we may quickly be Refolv'd. His Prodro mus will inform us, Job. 3. 29. He that bath the Bride is the Bridegroom. And S. Paul, 2 Cor. 11. 2. I have Efpous'd You to one Husband: That I may present you as a Chaft Virgin to Christ. And S. John,

Rev. 19. 7. Let us be glad and Rejoice, and give Honour to him; For the Marriage of the Lamb is come; and his Wife has made ber Self Ready.

Again, Of the Spouse, we may be as fure, That it is the Church. Eph. 5. 23.

The

The Husband is the Head of the Wife, as Chrift is the Head of the Church. And Ver. 25, Husbands Love your Wives, even as Chrift alfo Loved the Church. Now, as the Church is nothing but the Company of the Faithful; So every Believing Soul is a particular Spouse, as the Church is a general; Betrothed by Faith, United by Love, and Longing for the Confummation above.

Next, For the Heavenly Good defigned by these Nuptials, Could we rightly Conceive, and worthily Confider it, What more Glorious, more Advantageous, more Delicious, could we ever find, in this World or the next? 'Tis great and Sweet, To Serve the King of Kings; much more, to be number'd to be number'd among his Friends and Domesticks; More ftill, To be called the Sons of God, and the Brethren of Chrift; But the most of all, (if fo we may be admitted to speak,) That any fhould ever be called the Spouse of God, and the Royal Confort of his Throne, of his Crown, and of all his Titles. This is indeed, by way of higheft Eminence, To have a Name, better than of Sons, and of Daughters. Ifa. 57. 5. Not only to See God, and Speak to him; But to be made even One Spirit with him. I Cor. 6. 17. He that is Joined to the Lord is One Spirit; Tranf 5 formed into his Likeness. Job. 3. 2. We

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