A59665:1058
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. They that neglect the means and yet hope to come to their end, because of worldly clogs and incumbrances here; for this is the very spirit of many a man. If God keeps the house from being burn•, and family from being sick, it may be family prayer is neglected, if not that, yet secret is omitted; if not that, yet meditation; a man can get no head nor heart, nor time for it, if any good is got, its lost again; Sabbaths spent, and no good gained; a man knows his soul lies waste and common without any fence or watch, and that he would not let his fields lie as he doth his heart, overgrown with cares and lusts and vain thoughts. Now many a man though he doth dislike this, yet lives in this. Why? Is this your home, are these things your portion? No, but yet thinks he may with a safe Conscience continue thus, and God forgive him too; why the family is great, children increase upon me, (and they are so busy and long a dressing on the Lords day, that Sermon is out before they come) and we are not called to book it all day as Ministers can, and worldly employments are so many, and the best are entangled here; and they think this is an excuse, Luke 14. 18, 19. Nay many a one convinced of this, yet lives in this against the light of conviction, hoping that one day the stream of worldly occasions will be run by. I confess, as the Lord hath given us his Ordinances to seek him in, so he hath appointed our callings to walk with him in: Adam in Paradise must not be idle, but look to the garden; and in this land those that will be good husbands for God (least they discredit their profession by bringing themselves to a piece of bread) must be good husbands for themselves: But here is that which stings, when to worldly employments, men are servants, not Lords of them, when men do not make their occasions •ow down to them, and serve them, that they may serve and seek a God, but they bow down their knees, nay, basely their backs, under the feet of any mean employment, and that must be followed with neglect of God. Do not say who is not entangled here? I tell you if Christ• prayer can prevail some are not, John 17. 15. I pray not that thou wouldest take them out of the world, but keep them from the evil: If blood can prevail it doth,