A59665:1736
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. VI.
Hence see the reason why many a Christian, after he hath seen and felt the work of Gods grace in his heart and soul,1 and hence hath been filled with peace and joy unspeakable, that yet after long profession loseth the sight of it, and knows not whether there be any dram of grace in his heart or no; and consequently hath no assurance: but ask him, have you not known it? yes; but 'tis a question whether ever it was immortal seed or no, for then it would not dye, as I see it hath; the reason of this is, a man falls to a secure condition, fast asleep, forgets God and himself; and hence though there be grace, yet it is not exercised, Matth. 25. 26. and hence not seen at all, 2 Pet. 1. 8, 9. and one grace to another, and then an open entrance is made; this makes calling sure; if this they do not, they will not see a fat off; why? because they forget the Lord, which is one part of security: Hence we shall find in times of persecution, never such assurance as then, Zach. 13. ult. because grace is never so exercised as then; and hence men much in prayer abound with much assurance (when Christ was in his agony he prays more fervently) because then a man is watchful, and grace most exercised; when a man dyes in prayer, and grows secure, and hath little exercise of grace, now it is a question whether there is grace at all or no; and hence when men come to Sacraments, how oft are they put to it whether the Lord be theirs or no! and hence when men come to the Word, they lose all comfort, because they know now whether these promises are theirs or no, because they are asleep, and not waking with the Lord. Oh therefore lay no blame upon the Lord, but thy self; I have had grace, but I have not exercised it; I have lived a life of sloth and security, had I lived a life of thankfulness, prayer, watchfulness, and been ever awake, I should have seen my own heart, and what the Lord hath done for my soul: Here, here lies the security of a Christian, not in losing all grace he had, but in losing the exercise of it.