A59665:1412
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. Sometime snares of the world and other things beside. The Lord easeth them, the Lord sends no crosses, gives them their hearts desire, under which Vines they rest, yet if the Lord takes not all from them, he puts such a cloyedness in them, that the soul cannot but return to the Lord again, it cannot live on such course bread, things that satisfy not, it had better once, Eccles. 2. 3, 4, 11.
1. Sometime snares of the world and other things beside. The Lord easeth them, the Lord sends no crosses, gives them their hearts desire, under which Vines they rest, yet if the Lord takes not all from them, he puts such a cloyedness in them, that the soul cannot but return to the Lord again, it cannot live on such course bread, things that satisfie not, it had better once, Eccles. 2. 3, 4, 11.
2. Fears and discouragements of spirit, for when deli•vered from snares, then fears come, and discouragements, either by reason of outward losses or the Lords anger: So that the soul fears it never had, never shall have any mercy, that hath thus abused it; and it hath thought God himself to say so, and his behaviour in not hearing and helping in so long a time, to witness so: Yet it will return, though the Lord never save it; it will not sin: Jonah yet looks again to the Temple, when he could not come to it, yet he would look to it. The soul will turn up its eyes and mourn; Oh that I have so abused the Lord and mercy! that Love it self should be angry and frown! Psal. 77. The Psalmist refused to be comforted, v. 2. Nay, v. 3. Though he remembered God, and all his love past, yet troubled, this brought greater trouble, yet v. 10. I'll remember the years of the right hand of the most High. Saul did not thus.