And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. Rom. 13:11
It is an affecting but a real truth, that wise virgins are apt to slumber and sleep, as well as foolish. Through the pressures of a body of sin and death, and the opiates of worldly ease and self-indulgence, they sometimes fall into a drowsy state and a dull frame of soul. Hence they lose their former delight in religious duties and spiritual exercises. Their love to God and their brethren grows cold; their zeal for Christ's glory and his precious truth declines. The enemy takes great advantages against them, and would triumph in their entire destruction. But "He that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps." Will the loving father suffer his dear children to sleep in their beds till devoured by raging flames? If we, being evil, have such love for our children, how infinitely greater is our heavenly Father's love? Therefore he alarms and awakens souls to duty and watchfulness.
Thus Paul, his faithful watchman, lifts up his voice of warning, cries the hour, and reproves disciples as acting unbecomingly: it being both unreasonable and unseasonable for those who know the time of day, to indulge sloth and heaviness. It is high time to awake out of sleep. Come, christian, look about thee, look up. The Saviour reigns. It is broad day. See the sun shining; nay, just in its meridian. Thou art near thy journey's end, in sight of thy Father's house. Thy Lord is coming to meet thee. What! wilt thou sleep on and take thy rest? The Spirit says to thee, "Now is thy salvation nearer than when thou didst first believe." The Lord is at hand. "Let thy moderation, in care for 'the things of this life, be known unto all men."
Why grasping so much of perishing things? Thou canst not hold them long. Off hands, before death makes thee quit thy hold. Think for what thou art spiritually born, to what thou art called, and of what thou art soon to take possession. Verily, if thy soul is broad awake, thou seest things as they really are. Time, with all its toys and pleasures, how short! Eternity, with all its rich glories and inestimable blessings, how long! Jesus, with all his preciousness in his adorable person and finished salvation, the best object of thy hope, love, peace, and joy. For shame, sleep not when the delightful presence and heavenly fellowship of such a Friend may be enjoyed! If the sense of this be lost by sleep, resolve with the church, I will not give sleep to mine eyes until I find the Lord. Psalm 132:4, 5
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