A59665:1289
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. Hence many walk in some desires which the Spirit hath wrought, but to break through all difficulties, and follow the Lord indeed, and come to that they know they must indeed, this they will not do, but depart from Christ sorrowful, and hope the Lord will accept of them; and hence the Lord complains, Mal. 1. 8. of this generation that had desires in their flocks, but lame ones. Will thy King accept this? And so all their work is overly and superficial by stinting the Spirit. Thus far you shall go but no farther. Oh Beloved, this is the frame of a sincere heart, the Lord empties him, but he is never content till the Lord fills; and when he finds it, he sits not down content that the work is done, but as his want made him beg before, so his taste makes him long more now, as Moses, to see more of the Lords Glory: As Paul, Phil. 3. 12, 13. Oh therefore when the Spirit comes, entreat it to go on and finish. And hence David begs, Psal. 119. 132. Oh the mercy that thou usest to show to them that love thy Name! Why so? Oh David saw mercy to others, that sets God awork to do somewhat for them, work somewhat in them, but 'tis not such mercy. Oh beg for that mercy that humbled others, quickened others, that are now in Glory; that, or no mercy Lord!
3. Hence many walk in some desires which the Spirit hath wrought, but to break through all difficulties, and follow the Lord indeed, and come to that they know they must indeed, this they will not do, but depart from Christ sorrowful, and hope the Lord will accept of them; and hence the Lord complains, Mal. 1. 8. of this generation that had desires in their flocks, but lame ones. Will thy King accept this? And so all their work is overly and superficial by stinting the Spirit. Thus far you shall go but no farther. Oh Beloved, this is the frame of a sincere heart, the Lord empties him, but he is never content till the Lord fills; and when he finds it, he sits not down content that the work is done, but as his want made him beg before, so his tast makes him long more now, as Moses, to see more of the Lords Glory: As Paul,