A59665:1082
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.
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⟩2 Cor. 4. 16, 18. We faint not while we look to things that are eternal, Acts 24. 15, 16. There is not the vilest Reprobate, but when he shall see the glory that shall be revealed, shall stamp and rear his hair and say; Oh, if I had known this! I hope I should never have dreamed out my time so as I have done! We look on the Picture of Goodness in the volume of the Creatures, which satisfy not; Oh never cease looking upward, till you see what you seek for in the greatness of it. Suppose a man should sleep all his life-time, and be in a dream, and in it have all the delights and glory of the world presented before him, at last the ground opens its mouth and swallows him up, and then he is awakened, Lord how will he cry? Truly Christ and grace and fellowship with God are not thought of, sought for, are small things with men, but the World is great, and this is your delight; truly 'tis but your dream: What will your souls be when death opens its mouth? what a sad thing is it to see men spin Cobwebs that must be swept down.
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⟩2 Cor. 4. 16, 18. We faint not while we look to things that are eternal, Acts 24. 15, 16. There is not the vilest Repobate, but when he shall see the glory that shall be revealed, shall stamp and rear his hair and say; Oh, if I had known this! I hope I should never have dreamed out my time so as I have done! We look on the Picture of Goodness in the volume of the Creatures, which satisfie not; Oh never cease looking upward, till you see what you seek for in the greatness of it. Suppose a man should sleep all his life-time, and be in a dream, and in it have all the delights and glory of the world presented before him, at last the ground opens its mouth and swallows him up, and then he is awakened, Lord how will he cry? Truly Christ and grace and fellowship with God are not thought of, sought for, are small things with men, but the World is great, and this is your delight; truly 'tis but your dream: What will your souls be when death opens its mouth? what a sad thing is it to see men spin Copwebs that must be swept down.