A59665:1630
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, Because that in Virgin Churches there are the strongest provocations to this sin:1 Which are chiefly three.
- 1Reason. 1.
1. Rest and places of peace, and freedom from hard bondage; Jacob may sleep with his stone under his head, but much more easily under his own Vine and Fig trees. A man may be secure in the times of trouble, but much more in times of peace, when we have our beds made soft for us, and easy pillows. Friends can boldly desire us to rest, where there is lodgings for us: The world thrusts us out of lodging: While the prick is at the breast the Nightingale awakes and sings, but when that is taken away it sleeps in the day. In times of ⟨p. 4⟩persecution Paul is preaching till midnight, and the Lord is remembered in the songs, and sighs, and prayers of the night-season; but in times of peace, peace like Jael's milk and butter stupefies all the senses, though destruction be near; Hence Deut. 6. 12. Then forget not the Lord. Do you think that Noah in the Ark, when the waters swelled above the mountains, was secure? no, but when the waters ceased, and he had his Vineyard planted, now he sleeps in his drunkenness, because he knew not the strength of wine. In the Virgin-Church, where this sleep is, we suppose this freedom from evil.
1. Rest and places of peace, and freedom from hard bondage; Iacob may sleep with his stone under his head, but much more easily under his own Vine and Figtrees. A man may be secure in the times of trouble, but much more in times of peace, when we have our beds made soft for us, and easie pillows. Friends can boldly desire us to rest, where there is lodgings for us: The world thrusts us out of lodging: While the prick is at the brest the Nightingale awakes and sings, but when that is taken away it sleeps in the day. In times of