A59665:1698
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.
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, Matth. 25. 26. Thou evil and slothful servant; that hid his talent, and did not imploy 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.
6. When men do duties that are easy, but when any difficulty is in them, now they fall down asleep, Prov. 20. 4. and 12. 27. and hence beg the sweet and gain of Christianity: it's sown in difficult duties; when the Soul denies it self most: But when men not breaking through the difficulty find not the sweet of it, Lord! what a tattered profession is there, that men come to be the shame of Christ, not his glory! It's easy to pray, and outwardly to fast, but yet to have a whole heart in the work is hard: it is easy to cleave to the Lord when quickened; but when God forsakes you, now more than ever to cleave to him, is difficult.