A59665:1041
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.
SECT. III.
Hence we see one ground of many complaints that are in the mouths of many Professors of the ways of God,1 that never find the sweet which is the end of their Christian course, that are ever complaining of wants, but never feels supplies, ever learning, never knowing, ever hoping, never having, ever confessing of their sins, never triumphing over their sin, ever wishing that they had the Lord, but never possessing the Lord. And hence have minds full of fears, and mouths full of complaints, and hence finding no sweet in their course, could be content but for shame, to throw by their Profession. Why? Where is the cause of this? Is Heaven so barren and beggarly, that there are no Jewels to be had there? Are the fields of Gods Ordinances so empty, that there is no Treasure to be found there? Oh yes! there 'tis, but Christians are idle, there is the Treasure, but they cannot beg, much less dig for it, Prov. 2. 3, 4, 5, 6. If there be a treasure in the ground, and a man can find nothing, and so is ever complaining, the fault is in the man, he doth not dig long enough, nor deep enough; so 'tis here: There is never an Ordinance, but the Lord is in it; he never said to the Horse of Jacob seek his face in vain. Men pray, and if a few sighs will fetch in relief, well and good, if not, they cast that Shovel by, dig I cannot; they spend some time in laying sin to heart, but if I cannot presently feel the bitterness of it, I cannot help it, dig I cannot. A man can be content to hear the Word, and to listen after it, but to stir up the soul to lay hold on the Lord, that their sleep forbids, Prov. 13. 4. The soul of the diligent shall be made fat. Why do you famish under means? Is it because the Lords is unwilling or unable to relieve? No, John 6. 27. You labour for that bread that perisheth. Labour not for it, but for the other, and the Son of man will give it you, for he is sealed for that very end. You complain your hearts are always out of frame. Tell me, do you keep then with all diligence?