A59665:1722
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.
SECT. IV.
Hence see the reason why many Christians at their first beginnings grow,1 and thrive, and abound in the fruits of Righteousness; but afterward so poor and ragged; Oh the two or three first years, how frequently in prayer, meditation! Oh what sorrow and peace! but after this, now they can find little good they can get; little growth they make, unless it be downward; little life they have, and what ado to keep it, or to get a good spiritual meals meat! this is the reason of it; when they first began, then the enemy was out, and they were up, and now they conquered and had the spoils; but since, they have grown secure, and loved to sleep, I say love to sleep; and hence, little to be seen about them but rags; hence (Prov. 6. 11.) lest thy poverty come as an armed man, Prov. 20. 13. 11. truly this is it, and hence no wonder you are ever so full of complaints in midst of means; where God gives you matter of fullness, joy, peace, everlasting glory, yet you find nothing; so that sometimes you think there is no grace, or are almost of the mind that there is no grace to be looked for in us; if not, yet finding so little, there's no evidence for it: Oh your sloth it is the cause; hence 'tis you marvel at the Lord he helps not; Oh you do not awake, to awaken the arm of the Lord; you shall know, if you follow on to know the Lord, but that you do not; and hence the pricks and […] you made your peace with, and ate again vexed by them, this is the ⟨p. 21⟩reason of it: Oh therefore go in secret and say, I complain of my sins; the Ordinances and God that I seek, and have not, when my heart should be otherwise; but oh it is not because I cannot, but because I care not; it is not because of the strength of my enemy without, but because of my neglect of watch and diligence within. I know it was a sin for Pharaoh to charge Israel with idleness, because he commanded work without means; But is the Lords work so? look up to him for strength, he gives it them that have none; put forth that strength thou hast, he will accept thy will, but will never allow thee in thy sloth, but you shall to beggary at the last. Hence men roast not what they take in hunting, (