A59665:1188
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. Then the Saints if they be asked whether they believe, or can love the Lord Jesus; their answer must be, no I have no power to love, nor believe, and then Peter did ill to answer so, Lord thou knowest that I love thee. Then Paul to say, We can do nothing but for the Truth. Then that Martyr that to then that said, the Lord strengthen you: yes saith he, the Lord doth. I know if the Lord withdraw his Spirit, we are gone, as Adam; but is there not the immutable assistance of it? Is there not the Promise, I will never leave thee, though sometimes weaker, sometimes stronger?
3. Then the Saints if they be asked whether they believe, or can love the Lord Jesus; their answer must be, no I have no power to love, nor beleeve, and then Peter did ill to answer so, Lord thou knowest that I love thee. Then Paul to say, We can do nothing but for the Truth. Then that Martyr that to then that said, the Lord strengthen you: yes saith he, the Lord doth. I know if the Lord withdraw his Spirit, we are gone, as Adam; but is there not the immutable assistance of it? Is there not the Promise, I will never leave thee, though sometimes weaker, sometimes stronger?
4. This will make a Christian hide and not improve his Talents; he hath Grace, but no power to put it forth. Then suppose God gives power to see Truth one day, I must not see it with this eye the next; but look up to Christ, and say, I cannot see at all.
II. Causes of this.