A59665:1323
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.
1. That all unregenerate men are under the power of darkness,1 of ignorance, Eph. 5. 8. You were darkness in the abstract, Eph. 4. 18. So that they cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2. 14. Especially the Lord Jesus, for the knowledge of him is above nature, not only corrupted but pure nature. Nay though the Lord gives the best and clearest means of revealing himself, yet they cannot see, John 1. 5. Light shined in darkness, and it comprehended him not, no more than he whose visive faculty is lost, when the Sun shines round about him. Nay, that light which is in them is darkness, Mat. 6. 23. And then how great is that darkness? For many men might have known Christ, but that they thought they did know him before, and so are delivered up in these chains of darkness to the Prince of darkness, but are like wilderness-shrubs, shall never see when good comes. Ministers (as Christ did) may mourn over them, but can never help them until the Lord pull off their scales. For they please themselves in darkness, and love it more than light, and are not as Paul, praying and mourning under the Scales that are upon their eyes.
1. That all unregenerate men are under the power of darkness,1 of ignorance, Eph. 5. 8. You were darknesse in the abstract, Eph. 4. 18. So that they cannot understand the things of the Spirit of God, 1 Cor. 2. 14. Especially the Lord Jesus, for the knowledge of him is above nature, not only corrupted but pure nature. Nay though the Lord gives the best and clearest means of revealing himself, yet they cannot see,