A59665:1095
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. Your Temptations are greater here to neglect the Lord. Others are tried with the scorching Sun, there is no sleeping there. God tries us with the shadow, sets us under the Vines of Ordinances; others are in storms, we in calms. When thou eatest and art full, saith Moses, Deut. 8. 10, 11. Oh forget not the Lord! You lose in your estates, and now you are hungry after the same again. Satan when Christ was hungry, assaults him. 'Tis a thousand to one if he makes you not fair offers, and overcomes. Things that cost us much, we prize, and keep, and improve, if of any use. When we go Twenty mile to a Sacrament, Oh then its precious! While under the bondage of oppressors, oh liberty of Conscience, and Ordinances are precious? But when at liberty, we have liberty to have them, hence take liberty to neglect them.
3. Our enemies will be upon us. Who sees not (that observes the Lords dealing) that some sorrows are toward, unless the Lord awaken; some sudden blasting blow. If any wind be stirring, men on the tops of the mountains will feel it. The Lord hath set his mountain above all others, and its f•lly to think to flee from the Cross, unless we flee from Christ. 'Tis part of the portion he doth owe us here, if he loves us. Yet seek the Lord, neglect no seasons to gain him, and you shall he hid, Zeph. 2. 2. Nay when worst times come, 2 Chron. 15. 3, 4, 5. when there is no peace, they that seek him shall find him.
3. Our enemies will be upon us. Who sees not (that observes the Lords dealing) that some sorrows are toward, unlesse the Lord awaken; some sudden blasting blow. If any wind be stirring, men on the tops of the mountains will feel it. The Lord hath set his mountain above all others, and its f•lly to think to flee from the Crosse, unlesse we flee from Christ. 'Tis part of the portion he doth owe us here, if he loves us. Yet seek the Lord, neglect no seasons to gain him, and you shall he hid,