A59665:1695
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.
2. When men have lost all fear of the wrath to come, and the terror of God another day; not always a fear that I shall bear, but a dreadful apprehension what it is. Many Christians lose the sense of Gods love, yet the Lord keeps them in the sense of his anger, and so they are awake; but when both are gone, or this is gone, then there is and cannot but be the first security. For as it is with children, when their eyes are open to see and consider the things of the world, now they are begun to be awakened; I never look upon a Christian fully awakened till now, that the Lord lets him see the things of another world; and when this is lost he begins to sleep, 2 Cor. 5. 9. with 11. 2 Pet. 3. 11. 12. Some securelings thought all things were past; No (saith he) there is a time a coming when all things shall be dissolved; what manner of persons then should we be! Hence this being lost, men fear not sin, men prize not mercy, men wonder not if ever they escape; hence men live and hang between doubt and fear, never make sure, because they know not what Gods wrath is: Nay, lastly, hence nothing awakens them, that though they know their misery, yet they will go on (the highest degree of spiritual security) Oh then keep these thoughts awake! what it is to be forsaken of God! what it is to grapple with him!
2. When men have lost all fear of the wrath to come, and the terror of God another day; not always a fear that I shall bear, but a dreadful apprehension what it is. Many Christians lose the sense of Gods love, yet the Lord keeps them in the sense of his anger, and so they are awake; but when both are gone, or this is gone, then there is and cannot but be the first security. For as it is with children, when their eyes are open to see and consider the things of the world, now they are begun to be awakned; I never look upon a Christian fully awakened till now, that the Lord lets him see the things of another world; and when this is lost he begins to sleep, 2 Cor. 5. 9. with 11. 2 Pet. 3. 11. 12. Some securelings thought all things were past; No (saith he) there is a time a coming when all things shall be dissolved; what manner of persons then should we be! Hence this being lost, men fear not sin, men prize not mercy, men wonder not if ever they escape; hence men live and hang between doubt and fear, never make sure, because they know not what Gods wrath is: Nay, lastly, hence nothing awakens them, that though they know their misery, yet they will go on (the highest degree of spiritual security) Oh then keep these thoughts awake! what it is to be forsaken of God! what it is to grapple with him!