A59665:1257
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.
That there is a certain plenitude,1 fullness, or full measure of the Spirit of Grace in the hearts of the Faithful, which the most Glorious, yet unsound Professors of Virgin-Churches want, and have not in their Vessels, but fall short of.
THat there is a certain plenitude,1 fulnesse, or full measure of the Spirit of Grace in the hearts of the Faithful, which the most Glorious, yet unsound Professors of Virgin-Churches want, and have not in their Vessels, but fall short of.
- 1Doct. 3.
Just as these Foolish Virgins, they had their Lamps, a burning and shining Profession. And had they no more? Yes surely, for their Lamp how could it burn, but by means of some Oil? They had their wick touched and dipped in Oil, some lighter strokes and superficial impressions of the Spirit. They had not their Vessels filled with Oil, they had not this degree and full measure of the Spirit. This they fell short of, and herein appeared the difference. There are certain inward touches, an inward lighter Dye of Gods Spirit, which serves to beget a most eminent Profession before men, but never to make the Soul sincere indeed before the eyes of God. That look as some Naturalists make three or four kinds of life, differing only as higher or lower degrees of life, though not of the same life; as Plants have a Vegetative life only to grow, but no sensitive to see; because ⟨p. 191⟩their forms are more drowned in their matter; sensitive in beasts, yet not rational; rational in men, but not Angelical, &c. So here; a greater degree of the Spirits working, makes a difference in kind between Christian and Christian. 'Tis the Spirit that makes a man live a civil moral life, 'tis the same Spirit by a greater stroke, makes a man live the life of God,