A59665:1518
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. Look that you make your Vessels clear.1 It hath been said of old, and I believe tis a truth still, that the Lord will never send his Spirit to dwell in an unclean heart. Doves build not their habitations on dunghills. Gods Spirit must come as an efficient to take it away, but not as an Inhabitant to dwell in an unclean heart, 2 Tim. 2. 19, 20, 21. He that purgeth himself, he doth not say, God must do all, but he under God searcheth and purgeth, he shall be a vessel of honour, if from these things, especially from those sins which Apostates are conquered with, of which he there speaks: For there be many sins a man may be purged from, and not be a Vessel of honour. But what are the sins the Apostates perish by, mark them, find them out, one by pride, another by sloth, another by world, &c. He shall be a Vessel of honour. Men see and confess, but make not work of it indeed, the old heart is not better, you consume and languish still, 1 Cor. 9. 26, 27. I beat not the air, i. e. I lay deadly blows on my enemy, and I bea• down my body, least, &c. Overly search of sin, hath made overly decay of sin, and hence overly grace and affection. As a man hath not light, nor love, nor esteem enough, because he never felt his wound to the bottom. Oh account it an inestimable mercy when 'tis thus; oh therefore remember the rule of the Prophet, Jer. 4. 3, 4. Sow not among thorns, &c. Many mens profession springs up, but withers, never comes to perfection; this ground is not ploughed, or if so, not thoroughly ploughed, but thorns left to choke it. Well saith the Lord, look to your selves lest my wrath break out like fire; why is the Lord so dreadful here? Oh because men are careless here, I look to Christ, and my desires are good, and I pray in secret, and I am much changed, &c.
1. Look that you make your Vessels clear.1 It hath been said of old, and I beleeve tis a truth still, •that the Lord will never send his Spirit to dwell in an unclean heart. Doves build not their habitations on dunghils. Gods Spirit must come as an efficient to take it away, but not as an Inhabitant to dwell in an unclean heart,