groom's coming it will then appear, that he will own no other to belong to his Kingdom or Church which is his Spouse, but holy Perfons of a Virgin Purity.

Obferve by the way, that the Spouse or Bride of Chrift, and the Virgins or Bride-Maids tho' in the Parable they be spoken of as divers Persons, as if the Bride were one, and the Virgins that wait on her, were other Perfons diftinct from her, yet are they not feveral Persons indeed, but the felf fame. The Virgins are Chriftians, and fingly confider'd, they are fo many fingle Chriftians, and fingle Perfons diftinct one from another, and fo they are ten; or of a great number, that is, as many as there are Chriftians in the World, and fo they are faid to be Bride-maids who wait upon her. But now these fame single Chriftians taken jointly or collectively, are the Bride herself, on whom they are faid to wait, that is, Catholick or Universal Church of Chrift, as it is one body made up of many Members: And here we learn two things; 1. The Nature of Chrift's Church. 2. The Office and Duty of us the Members of it.

1. The Nature of Chrift's Church. It is the Univerfal Body of all Chriftians throughout the World, as we profefs to believe it in the Creed. The Holy Catholick or Univerfal Church; this is the Bride or Spouse of Chrift, and the Body of Chrift, whereof he is the only Husband and Head. For as the Body is one, and hath many Members, and all the Members of that one Body being many, are one Body; fo alfo is Chrift, i. e. the Body or Church of Chrift, 1 Cor. 12. 12. We grow up into him in all things which is the Head, even Chrift: From whom the whole Body fitly joyned toge

ther,

ther, and compacted by that which every joynt fupplieth, according to the effectual working in the mea Sure of every part, maketh increase of the Body, unto the edifying of itself in love. Eph. 4. 15, 16. And Ch. 5. The Apoftle fpeaking of the Marriage Bond and Conjugal Union and Affection, that ought to be betwixt Man and Wife, he tells us, that tho' all that he there faith be true of Men and their Wives, yet principally he speaks it of Chrift and the Church. For as the Husband is the head of the Wife, even fo is Christ of the Church, and the Saviour of the Body, v. 23. He loved the Church, and gave himself for it, that he might fantifie and cleanfe it, with the washing of Water by the Word; That he might prefent it to himself a glorious Church, not having pot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish, 26, 27. This is the Bride, the Lamb's Wife. Rev. 21. 9. All Chriftians conjointly. For, faith the Apofle, by one Spirit, we are all baptized into one Body, I Cor. 12, 13.

2. The Duty of us the Members; for, faith the Apostle, v. 27. Now ye are the Body of Chrift, and Members in particular, i. e. jointly taken, ye are one Body or Church of Chriftfeverally confidered, ye are Members of that one Body, as the Virgins in the Text joyntly are the Bride, fingly are the Bride-maids. And what's their Duty as fuch? It is fuppofed here to attend the Bride, and wait to do their Office at the Bridegroom's coming. This then is it that we learn, that every fingle Chriftian is to consider himself as a Member of Chrift's Body the Church. And fo

1. If he be feparated from the Body he dies, because he is fo feparated from the Head, which

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communicates its Life to the Body. The Branch muft abide in the Vine, or it is fruitlefs, and withereth, Job. 15. 4. 6. There is to be no Schifm or Breach made in the Body. i Cor. 12. 25. And this is it St. Paul exhorts to, Eph.4. That we endeavour to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace, v. 3. because there is but one Body and one Spirit of Chriftians, v. 4.

For tho'

2. Contribute what he can to the Health and Life of the Body, and every Member of the Body. For unto every one of us is given Grace, according to the measure of the gift of Chrift. Eph. 4. 7. And all is to this end, for the edifying of the Body of Chrift, v. 12. there be a great difference between one Member and another in dignity and usefulness, yet fhould no Member envy or defpife another, but help and ferve one another according to its Ability. To this end every Member must,

1. Keep its place and station, and do the Office that belongs to it. If it be a Foot, it must be content to walk and be guided by the Eye, and not prefume to fee for it felf or to guide, but to bear the Body.

2. Be at peace with the reft, if the Hand will tear out the Eye; the Body will suffer by it.

3. Serve the Body, and the reft of the Members according to its Office. The Members are to have the fame care one for another, 1 Cor. 12, 25. And whether one member fuffer, all the Members fuffer with it, or one Member be honoured, all the Members rejoyce with it, v. 26.

O how little is all this confider'd by Christians at this Day! How is the Body of Chrift torn in pieces? And how do the Members of it, that pretend to be fo, divide the Body whereof they

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pretend to be Members? And how do they envy and malign, bite and devour one another? 2. The Church of Chrift is likened un'o fuch Perfons as are Virgins; and what doth this each us; but that all the Members of Chrift's Church are to be of a Virgin Purity undefiled, and holy in all manner of Converfation. He that was born of a pure Virgin, the Holy one of God, will Marry no other but a pure Virgin, to fuch as cleanse themfelves from all filthinefs of Flesh and Spirit, and are ever perfecting Holiness in the Fear of God. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Now to a Virgin belong these things,

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1. That the have no Husband already, fuch are the Members of Chrift's Church, not Married to any other God in any other Religion. No Idolaters, no Sectaries, or Followers of Men, faying I am of Paul, &c. wedded to this or that Man's opinion, but Followers of Christ only. I have efpoufed you to one Husband, that I may prefent you as a Chaft Virgin to Chrift. 2 Cor. 11. 2.

2. That the be not of wanton or wandring Affections; fuch are the Members of Chrift, not fetting their affections on things below, but on things above, where Chrift fitteth on the right Hand of God. Col. 3. 1.

3. That the be adorn'd with Modefty, a Virgin blush being the most natural paint for a Virgin's Face. They are no Members of Chrift, who have loft Modefty, and are not ashamed of every Sinful thing, or any thing that argues Levity and Wantonnefs; how much lefs they that glory in their Shame? Thou hadst a Whore's Forehead, thou refufedit to be ashamed. Fer. 3. 3. Virgins were veiled and covered in the Church. I Cor. II. 4. Retiredness and refervednefs become a Vir

D'd

gin.

gin. And the Members of Chrift, muft not freely mix with all companies, nor converfe too much abroad in the World, for fear of Snares and Temptations. 'Tis the character of a good Wife, and more of a Virgin, to be Chafte, Keepers at home. Tit. 2. 5. Keep clofe to the Church the Houfe of God, and take heed of hearkning to the Voice of Strangers.

3. The Church of Chrift fhall be likened to Virgins that took their Lamps, made a fair fhew of profeffion, and preparation for the bufinefs. they went about. They took Lamps, and fome Oil in the m.

Learn, that an outward Chriftian profeffion, and fhew of Religion, is neceflary to make one but a feeming Member of the Church.

With what face then can they pretend to be of the Church, who have not fo much as this fhew, but the quite contrary?

We all took Lamps in our hands in Baptifm ; but have not many caft them away fince? Where's Our Light fhining before Men?

We have been fome of us Catechized,and come to hearing in the Church; to what end, if not to get fupplies of Oil? but alas, how few do so.

There may be Lamps without Oil, Profeffion without fincere Piety; but no Oil without Lamps, no fincerity without external Profeffion. With the Heart Man believeth unto Righteousness, and with the Mouth Confiffion is made unto Salvation, Rom. 10. 10.

4. They went forth to meet the Bridegroom, i. e. Towards the Bride's Chamber, to go thence when 'twas time.

1. We must go forth. 1, From home, our Carnal felves. 2. From the World, and all is allurements.

2. We