A59665:1731
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.
Object. But is not Christ's yoke easy and his burden light, full of sweetness, &c?
Object. BVt is not Christ's yoke easie and his burden light, full of sweetness, &c?
Answ. There is a life of faith, and a life of sloth; a rest which Faith gives, and Christ gives; and a rest which mans own sloth and security gives: but there is a wide difference between them.
First, a believing heart cleaves to the Lord, and so finds rest in the Lord, and that with purpose and decree of heart, to cleave to him in one thing as well as in another; the heart is not at peace with Satan, and at war with God, but joineth to the Lord, and stands armed with a strong resolution against every temptation; and hence peace with Christ is maintained, not with sloth: as Barnabas, Acts 11. 23 exhorted with full purpose of heart to cleave unto the Lord, when he saw the grace of God; seeing you find such mercy from him, oh cleave unto him: But now a secure heart cleaves to the Lord in some desires; and if he be resolved of any thing, it is only of that which he can do with ease, and will not be what he would be; he would be better, and know the Lord more, and this quiets him; but he will not be what he would be, because his compact and covenant of peace is made with another; he will be sluggish and secure, and not use the means; oh sleep is sweet, Prov. 12. 27. The sluggard roasts not what he took in h•nting; he will not roast it, there is trouble there.
First, a believing heart cleaves to the Lord, and so findes rest in the Lord, and that with purpose and decree of heart, to cleave to him in one thing as well as in another; the heart is not at peace with Satan, and at war with God, but joyneth to the Lord, and stands armed with a strong resolution against every temptation; and hence peace with Christ is maintained, not with sloth: as Barnabas,