July 8

Afterward came also the other virgins, saying Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.—Matthew 25:11, 12.

Doth he not justly turn away from us, and punish us, when he is giving up himself unto us for all things, and we are resisting him? It is surely plain to all. For whether thou art desirous to adorn thyself, "Let it, he saith, be with my ornaments;" or to arm thyself, "with my Arms;" or to clothe thyself, "with my Raiment;" or to inherit, "my Inheritance;" or to enter into a country, "the City of which I am Builder and Maker;" or to build a house, "amongst my Tabernacles." "For I, so far from asking thee for a recompense of the things that I give thee, do even make myself owe thee a recompense for this very thing, if thou be willing to use all I have." What can be equal to this munificence, "I am Father, I am Brother, I am Bridegroom, I am Dwelling Place, I am Food, I am Raiment, I am Root, I am Foundation, all whatsoever thou willest, I am." "Be thou in need of nothing, I will be even a servant, for I came to minister, not to be ministered unto; I am Friend, and Member, and Head, and Brother, and Sister, and Mother;

I am all; only cling thou closely to me. I was poor for thee, and a wanderer for thee, on the Cross for thee, in the tomb for thee, above I intercede for thee to the Father; on earth I am come for thy sake an Ambassador from my Father. Thou art all things to me, brother, and joint heir, and friend, and member." What wouldst thou more? Why dost thou turn away from him, who loveth thee? Why dost thou labor for the world? Why dost thou draw water into a broken cistern? For it is this to labor for the present life. Why dost thou comb wool into the fire? Why dost thou beat the air? Why dost thou run in vain? Why, like the foolish virgins, do you take no oil with you in your vessels? Hath not every art an end? It is surely plain to every one. Do thou also show the end of thy worldly eagerness. But thou canst not; for, Vanity of vanities, all is vanity: Let us go to the tombs; show me thy father; show me thy wife. Where is he that was clad in raiment of gold? he that rode in a chariot? he that had armies, that had the girdle, that had the heralds? he that was slaying these, and casting those into prison? he that put to death whom he would, and set free whom he was minded? I see nothing but bones, and a worm, and a spider's web; all those things are earth, all those a fable, all a dream, and a shadow, and a bare relation, and a picture, or rather not so much as a picture. For in the picture we see at least a likeness, but here not so much as a likeness.

And would that evils stop with this. For now the honor, and the luxury, and the distinction, end with a shadow, with words; but the consequences of them, are no longer limited to a shadow and to words, but continue, and will pass over with us elsewhere; not in similitude, will our remissness and wickedness reappear, neither in ashes, but written above, both words, and deeds. And then shall they foreclose our entrance into heaven, for though with great earnestness such shall say, Lord, Lord, open to us, he will answer, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.

With what eyes then shall we behold the Bridegroom when he cometh? For if any one could not bear to see his father, when conscious to himself that he had sinned against him, upon him who infinitely exceeds a father in forbearance how shall we then look? how shall we bear it? For indeed we shall stand at

Christ's judgment seat, and there will be a strict inquiry into all things.

But if any man disbelieve the judgments to come, let him look at the things here, at those in prisons, those in mines, the possessed, the frantic, them that are struggling with incurable diseases, those that are fighting against continual poverty, them that live in famine, them that are pierced with irremediable woes, those in captivity. For these persons would not suffer these things here, unless vengeance and punishments were to await all the others also that have committed such sins. And if the rest have undergone nothing here, you ought to regard this very fact as a sign that there is surely something to follow after our departure hence. For the self-same God of all would not take vengeance on some, and leave others unpunished, who have committed the same or more grievous offenses, unless he designed to bring some punishments upon them there.

By these arguments then and these examples let us also humble ourselves; and let them who are obstinate unbelievers of the judgment, believe it henceforth, and become better men; that having lived here in a manner worthy of the kingdom, we may attain unto the good things to come, by the grace and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.