A59665:1174
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.
First, To those that deny created graces in the Saints peculiar unto them only, its said there are none such in the Country, if there are not, it may be there have been, and it may be will be, and therefore isle speak: For I believe 'tis a delusion digged and hatched out of the steam of the lowest sink in Hell: And therefore that all may take heed of the evil of it, I will first show the evil of it, then the causes that do beget it.
First, To those that deny created graces in the Saints peculiar unto them only, its said there are none such in the Country, if there are not, it may be there have been, and it may be will be, and therfore ile speak: For I beleeve 'tis a delusion digged and hatcht out of the steam of the lowest sink in Hell: And therefore that all may take heed of the evill of it, I will first shew the evill of it, then the causes that do beget it.
I. The evils of this delusion are these.
1. It settles and fastens a man under the power of all his sin, and yet with a quiet Conscience, and yet to keep his Christ too. It transcends my capacity from whatever I have read, or have heard, or have felt, or can imagine how the power of sin can be taken away, but where the Spirit infuseth the contrary grace; an empty house swept and garnished with common gifts, is but a fitting house for Satan to return into: Say therefore a man may have no such graces, and yet have Christ, and them in Christ, you stake this man down under his sin, and make this member of Satan, a member of Christ Jesus. And upon this ground all Churches in the Land may be forced in Conscience to take in all profane members, if they plead Christ, and their allness in him.
1. It settles and fastens a man under the power of all his sin, and yet with a quiet Conscience, and yet to keep his Christ too. It transcends my capacity from whatever I have read, or have heard, or have felt, or can imagine how the power of sin can be taken away, but where the Spirit infuseth the contrary grace; an empty house swept and garnished with common gifts, is but a fitting house for Satan to return into: Say therefore a man may have no such graces, and yet have Christ, and them in Christ, you stake this man down under his sin, and make this member of Satan, a member of Christ Jesus. And upon this ground all Churches in the Land may be forced in Conscience to take in all prophane members, if they plead Christ, and their allness in him.