A59665:1148
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. If there should not be those graces, then a Christian was not bound to add one grace to another, but then the Apostles precept should be broken, 2 Pet. 1. 7, 8. and so a Christian could not grow in grace, for graces are perfect in Christ; and the Spirit doth not grow in grace, and the immediate operations of the Spirit increasing in us, are not properly graces, no more than the act of seeing is the eye, no more then giving goods to be burned is love.
2. If there should not be those graces, then a Christian was not bound to adde one grace to another, but then the Apostles precept should be broken, 2 Pet. 1. 7, 8. and so a Christian could not grow in grace, for graces are perfect in Christ; and the Spirit doth not grow in grace, and the immediate operations of the Spirit increasing in us, are not properly graces, no more than the act of seeing is the eye, no more then giving goods to be burned is love.
3. Then we are not to pray for graces, if there be no such things to be found in the hearts of Saints, but Psal. 51. 10. David prays, Create in me a clean heart; now if it be a thing created in me, 'tis not the Spirit only in me, for that cannot be created. I doubt not but David had a clean heart, but he fell in part; and therefore look as there needs a creating power to make, so there is a creating power to restore us again to what is lost.
3. Then we are not to pray for graces, if there be no such things to be found in the hearts of Saints, but Psal. 51. 10. David praies, Create in me a clean heart; now if it be a thing created in me, 'tis not the Spirit only in me, for that cannot be created. I doubt not but David had a clean heart, but he fell in part; and therefore look as there needs a creating power to make, so there is a creating power to restore us again to what is lost.