A59665:1088
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.
II. Motives to you that have followed the Lord, but now have begun to neglect him: For what cause I know not, but I am sure the Lord hath given you none: Yet a spirit of slumber and sloth is upon you, that you are not the men you were. It may be some for want of place, want of time, many occasions, many sorrows and temptations in this wilderness; and hence no means sweet, no bed easy, your bones are broken. It may be a little time of neglect hath emboldened you to a custom: It may be loose examples, the spirits of others flat, and thine is so too, whom God sent into Church-Fellowship to quicken them: It may be an ill Husband is an hindrance, a bad wife, as Jobs wife, or whatever 'tis, Oh that God would speak this day to you!
II. Motives to you that have followed the Lord, but now have begun to neglect him: For what cause I know not, but I am sure the Lord hath given you none: Yet a spirit of slumber and sloath is upon you, that you are not the men you were. It may be some for want of place, want of time, many occasions, many sorrowes and temptations in this wildernesse; and hence no means sweet, no bed easie, your bones are broken. It may be a little time of neglect hath emboldned you to a custome: It may be loose examples, the spirits of others flat, and thine is so too, whom God sent into Church-Fellowship to quicken them: It may be an ill Husband is an hindrance, a bad wife, as Iobs wife, or whatever 'tis, Oh that God would speak this day to you!
1. Consider thou art nearer to thy salvation than when thou didst first believe; and then you thought no time, no pains too much, but all too little, Rom. 13. 11, 12. Mariners near the Shore, look out for Rocks, Lord that I may not split now. Truly as it was with Christ, the longer he did live, the more sorrows, so with you. God hath carried you near salvation, Oh now being nearer, there are worse rocks, look about you now. Satan's last temptations are strongest. Oh give not in now! It may be not many days nor weeks hence thou shalt come to thy journeys end: Awaken then out of sleep.