A59665:1660
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.
Fourthly, If this prevail not, speak often to them, of the sins of others; in condemning others you condemn them; and this will make them look about them; view the fields, and show them the tares that are grown up by security; and laying down these sins you strike at the root of theirs; It may be, you cannot tell certainly, Acts 2. 40. The Lord made this one means to awaken a Belshazzar, Dan. 5. 22. God turned thy Father into a beast, &c. to live in the woods, yet thou humbledst not thy self, &c. How many Professors doth God deal so withal?
Fourthly, If this prevail not, speak often to them, of the sins of others; in condemning others you condemn them; and this will make them look about them; view the fields, and shew them the tares that are grown up by security; and laying down these sins you strike at the root of theirs; It may be, you cannot tell certainly, Acts 2. 40. The Lord made this one means to awaken a Belshazzer, Dan. 5. 22. God turned thy Father into a beast, &c. to live in the woods, yet thou humbledst not thy self, &c. How many Professors doth God deal so withal?
Fifthly, Enter into Covenant and brotherly promise to exhort one another, as David and Jonathan; If any hurt be toward David, Jonathan will speak of it, 1 Sam. 20. Some may in Church-fellowship be more nearly knit than others, to call one another to account, to tell one another their fears, to know of one another their progress. Canst not give an account to man? how wilt thou give an account to God of it? I am persuaded many a man lies smothered to death by means of this. Canst not come to the light of a candle? Oh how then canst thou appear before the light of the Sun.