A59665:1697
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.
4. When men go to prayer without receiving any answer, now a man begins to slumber, Prov.13. 4. men that are fast asleep speak not all, but when awake a little they speak a little, and then sleep, and then awake, and sleep again; so men pray and sleep again; it is a deep slumber also when men shall beg for bread and money, and then fall a sleep constantly, and so lie down satisfied: Oh take heed of this! Hence comes First, Snarling at God. Secondly, Heartlessness to the duty. Thirdly, Formality in it. Fourthly, Profaneness of course at last.
4. When men go to prayer without receiving any answer, now a man begins to slumber, Prov.13. 4. men that are fast asleep speak not all, but when awake a little they speak a little, and then sleep, and then awake, and sleep again; so men pray and sleep again; it is a deep slumber also when men shall beg for bread and money, and then fall a sleep constantly, and so lie down satisfied: Oh take heed of this! Hence comes First, Snarling at God. Secondly, Heartlesness to the duty. Thirdly, Formality in it. Fourthly, Prophaness of course at last.
5. When men do gain something from the Lord in the use of means, but now stand still they go no further; they lose not what they had, but they gain no more; they grow not, Matth. 25. 26. Thou evil and slothful servant; that hid his talent, and did not employ it; and here is usually the beginning of a mans fall, when (like one in a journey) he goes not forward or backward, but stands still, and so falls, Prov. 18. 9.
5. When men do gain something from the Lord in the use of means, but now stand still they go no further; they lose not what they had, but they gain no more; they grow not,