A59665:1576
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.
First, They sometimes deny the constancy of Grace, where constantly it is, (for the Spirit of Grace in us is like life, for 'tis eternal life. It's ever acting or remaining in the soul) and this they do by reason of many mistakes. As
1. They think the Grace of God in them perisheth, when the act ceaseth. Whereas a man may be weary of actions of life, where life remaineth, as in sick men. A man may have a rich treasure alway with him, yet not alway spend it. There is a gracious frame of heart which the Lord regards chiefly, which is before the act, & hence may be without it. The wheel doth not run that it may be round, but it is made round that it may run. Hence when the act of running ceaseth, the frame whereby its fit to run again, remaineth; And this is the Seed of God, 1 John •. 9.
1. They think the Grace of God in them perisheth, when the act ceaseth. Whereas a man may be weary of actions of life, where life remaineth, as in sick men. A man may have a rich treasure alway with him, yet not alway spend it. There is a gracious frame of heart which the Lord regards chiesly, which is before the act, & hence may be without it. The wheel doth not run that it may be round, but it is made round that it may run. Hence when the act of running ceaseth, the frame whereby its fit to run again, remaineth; And this is the Seed of God, 1 John •. 9.
2. Many think the act of grace ceaseth, when it doth not act alway upon the same object; as some think, because they have not the sense of Gods love alway, all grace is lost, when it may be there is sense of corruption at that time; sometime God gives victory over temptation, it riseth again: Now the soul thinks the very act of grace ceaseth, when yet its now warring against the temptation; sometime