A59665:1081
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.
3. Love the presence of the Lord and his company. If there be any love between you, you will then find time, and nothing shall keep you from him, Jer. 2. 1, 2, 3. I remember the love of thine espousals, when thou followedst me in a wilderness through pits and deserts. Remember he hath been in heaven praying for thee, when thou hast been provoking of him, he hath been blessing thee, when thou hast been abusing him, it may be he hath let out his heart blood to make room for thee in his heart, it may be he intends through all eternity to express his dearest love to thee, and is he not worth your love? Love him, and you will be with him, love will be stronger then death, it will break all these bonds.
3. Love the presence of the Lord and his company. If there be any love between you, you will then finde time, and nothing shall keep you from him, Ier. 2. 1, 2, 3. I remember the love of thine espousals, when thou followedst me in a wilderness thorow pits and deserts. Remember he hath been in heaven praying for thee, when thou hast been provoking of him, he hath been blessing thee, when thou hast been abusing him, it may be he hath let out his heart blood to make room for thee in his heart, it may be he intends through all eternity to express his dearest love to thee, and is he not worth your love? Love him, and you will be with him, love will be stronger then death, it will break all these bonds.
4. Set before you the greatness of the good you are to use all me•ns to gain; why do men hunt after flesh-pots? The world is esteemed great, 'tis near us, and so for honour: Now Christ and eternity are afar off, and hence they seem little, and hence to seek them is not made a business of greatest weight and importance, ⟨p. 164⟩