A59665:1516
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.
Consider,1 else the Lord will try you; God hath his trying times, and they were never sent but to discover who were dross, who were gold, and the main end of all Gods Trials is to discover this Truth that I now am pressing upon you. Some have a thorough work, and now the Trial discovers the Truth, as in Abraham, Hebr. 11. 17. Some have superficial work, and they fall in Trial, as Saul, and it doth discover it was but an overly work; For this is the Question God makes: Is it through or no? I, saith a carnal heart, Yes, saith a gracious heart. Hence its strange to see what men will do when a trial comes. A man maintains a lust, he will not show it, nor defend it, he shall turn to be of some opinion or other, and the corruption of his mind shall show the corruption of his heart: A man loathes the people of God, but he saith he loves them; now this shall be a sign: Time shall come that some of them shall be matter of offence to him, and shall not honour him, it shall try him. A man loathes Ordinances, he saith he doth not, but comes to the worlds end to enjoy them. He shall have plenty of them, and some sad losses with them, and then you shall see he surfeits of them, never quickened by them, to show the work was but overly. A mans heart is above God, he saith he is content to be at the Lords dispose, let him do any thing with him, this comforts him. He shall have a cross wi•e, or ⟨p. 226⟩something that doth not please him, and now hi• heart quarrels, and thus he shall be tried, to show it was but overly work. Men despise the liberties the Lord gives them; they say they pri•e them. A general Governor shall come with pretences of Religion and Protection, and you shall see this chaff will take old Birds now. Oh therefore try your selves here, and be sure you fall not short here.
Consider,1 else the Lord will try you; God hath his trying times, and they were never sent but to discover who were dross, who were gold, and the main end of all Gods Tryals is to discover this Truth that I now am pressing upon you. Some have a thorow work, and now the Tryal discovers the Truth, as in Abraham,