A59665:1275
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.
So for turning to the Lord. Do not many unsound hearts turn over a new leaf? Do they not, not only outwardly, but inwardly too? Where is the flaw then? In the degree, Jer. 3. 10. Judah hath not turned with her whole heart, but treacherously. So there may be some growth and life in false unsound hearts, that may after fall away: But where is the wound? Look in the Parable of the Seed; Some grew not at all; some did grow, but not having depth of earth, fell again: Others fell not in persecution, but there were the roots of Thorns that choked the Seed; the good grounds seed came to ripeness and fullness of fruit, though some in a greater degree than others; yet none at all (no ripe fruit) in the rest. Hence the Lord is said to weigh the heart, Prov. 16. 2. Men think they are humbled, and do believe, but God finds them too light, as Belshazzar was weighed and found too light. And thus it will be seen at the last day, when Christ Jesus shall appear, that all the most glorious Profession of many a man is therefore rejected, because found too light.
So for turning to the Lord. Do not many unsound hearts turn over a new leaf? Do they not, not only outwardly, but inwardly too? Where is the flaw then? In the degree, Jer. 3. 10. Iudah hath not turned with her whole heart, but treacherously. So there may be some growth and life in false unsound hearts, that may after fall away: But where is the wound? Look in the Parable of the Seed; Some grew not at all; some did grow, but not having depth of earth, fell again: Others fell not in persecution, but there were the roots of Thorns that choakt the Seed; the good grounds seed came to ripenesse and fulness of fruit, though some in a greater degree than others; yet none at all (no ripe fruit) in the rest. Hence the Lord is said to weigh the heart, Prov. 16. 2. Men think they are humbled, and do believe, but God finds them too light, as Belshazzar was weighed and found too light. And thus it will be seen at the last day, when Christ Jesus shall appear, that all the most glorious Profession of many a man is therefore rejected, because found too light.