A59665:118
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.
3. Hereupon the Law falls upon a man, or a man meets with the Law; for as all a mans sorrow is upon him because the Law is broken, all a mans care is how he may keep it again. What shall I do? As a man cast in prison for debt, there all is opened; an the Law like an earnest suitor, 1. Presseth hard for love and obedience. 2. Promiseth a rich portion, eternal life, if he can keep it; If not you must be damned; therefore now forsake your sins, &c.
3. Hereupon the Law fals upon a man, or a man meets with the Law; for as all a mans sorrow is upon him because the Law is broken, all a mans care is how he may keep it again. What shall I do? As a man cast in prison for debt, there all is opened; an the Law like an earnest suitor, 1. Presleth hard for love and obedience. 2. Promiseth a rich portion, eternal life, if he can keep it; If not you must be damned; therefore now forsake your sins, &c.
4. Hence the soul not knowing a better Husband, consents and resolves to cleave to it, Rom. 10. 3. Deut. 5. Whatever the Lord will have us do, we will do it; and here it stays, and is comforted, here it rests; as in Asa his time all rejoiced for the Oath, 2 Chro. 15. Isai. 58. 1, 2. and if it find not perfect comfort because of imperfect work, it then closeth with Christ for to make up and piece up all, Gal. 5. 1. And now I say 'tis comforted in what it hath, and doth, and here it rests; now from hence it must be divorced: What need I prove it, when the Apostle hath so fully, Galat. per totum, and consider the young man, Mat. 19. Divorced, I say, the soul must be from this.