A59665:1158
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.
But must not a Christian deny himself, and alway go to Christ for power to do,1 and so be humble, and empty?
- 1Object. 1.
1. You must, because this is the means to live to Christs;1 but this doth not argue you have no power at all. A man must pray for his daily bread, much more for daily grace; but doth this argue a man hath no bread in his house? No, this is the means to have it continued and blest. Easily can the Lord take away bread, or the staff of bread. Graces extinguish not Faith, but help it.
1. You must, because this is the meanes to live to Christs;1 but this doth not argue you have no power at all. A man must pray for his daily bread, much more for daily grace; but doth this argue a man hath no bread in his house? No, this is the means to have it continued and blest. Easily can the Lord take away bread, or the staff of bread. Graces extinguish not Faith, but help it.
- 1Answ.
2. A Christian can do no duty perfectly, hence must repair to Christ to help him to do every duty better; hence though he must use that power he hath, and do what he can, yet he must not content himself with what he hath, but seek for more, and what a sweet life is this? What honour would here come in? God lets in a new light into my mind, now I may and must see his truth, I saw it yesterday, but I may and must go to Christ to do it better; I must not quench the Spirit of prayer, but carry the key with me, and next day pray better. And thus the soul is thankful for what it hath, and emptying it self notwithstanding that, and daily then receiving from Christ. And I believe many Christians fail here: As in the body, meat feeds and strengthens life, so I cannot live without Christ.