A59665:1030
The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied
The parable of the ten virgins opened & applied being the substance of divers sermons on Matth. 25, I-13 wherein the difference between the sincere Christian and the ... hypocrite ... are clearly discovered ... / by Thomas Shepherd ; now published from the authors own notes ... by Jonathan Mitchell ... Tho. Shepherd, son to the reverend author ...The parable of the ten virgins opened & applied being the substance of divers sermons on Matth. 25, I-13 wherein the difference between the sincere Christian and the ... hypocrite ... are clearly discovered ... / by Thomas Shephard ; now published from the authours own notes ... by Jonathan Mitchell ... Tho. Shephard, son to the reverend author ...
London: printed by J. Hayes for John Rothwell, 1660
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. The Foolish glory in an outward Profession, as also in some superficial affection, without an inward Principle of the gracious presence of the eternal anointing and Spirit in them; but the wise have it, and are carried to Glory by it. And more at this time of the Lamps and Vessels I shall not speak.
1.1 That the closest Hypocrites of Virgin-Churches discover themselves (at least before the Lord) in an ineffectual use of those means that do conduce towards their desired and expected end.
- 1Doct. 1.
The Bridegroom is here looked for, the presence of Christ Jesus is longed for, he comes in the night, they must meet him in the night. Now means they use, Lamps they take, and so much Oil as kindles their Lamps; but Oil they take not in their Vessels, the only means to preserve their Lamps from going out, that so they may meet the Lord and not be shut out from the Lord, as at last these careless Virgins were. Search the Churches for the present, search the Records of Ages past, many have desired the Lord and looked for the Lord, and yet have lost the Lord their end: Why so? They never had hearts effectually to use and improve the means to that end, either outward or inward. Look upon men out of the Church, they perish because they have no remedy, they have no Lamps to light, they have no Bread to eat, no Means to help. But why do those within the Church perish? Is it because there is no remedy? No, but because they do not use the remedy. Is it because they want Means? No, but because they do not effectually improve means. Here they fall short, herein they discover themselves. Look but upon this next Parable of the Talents, v.25. One of them was cast off, and cast out. Why? Because he had no Talents? No, But because he had no mind nor list to use his Talent, he did not make his gain out of it to attain his end. All Ordinances of God, and all that time we have under them are Talents. Now wherein do Hypocrites fail? There is a secret gain of Ordinances which Hypocrites regard not, and hence the best hypocrite lives in debt, and die a Beggar. For