A59665:1779
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.
First, Make the coming of the Lord real, see it real, and set it really (as it shall be) before your eyes: Heb. 9. ult. to them that look for him, &c. Why do not men look for him? truly, very few do look for him really; it is only a report, a noise with many men; where there is the power of grace, it presents things as they are, which shall be so; Faith is the substance of things not seen, it puts them in their being; it is the evidence of things not seen, ⟨p. 23⟩for otherwise it will never work upon you. Especially think on these Four things at that day.
First, MAke the coming of the Lord real, see it real, and set it really (as it shall be) before your eyes: Heb. 9. ult. to them that look for him, &c. Why do not men look for him? truly, very few do look for him really; it is only a report, a noise with many men; where there is the power of grace, it presents things as they are, which shall be so; Faith is the substance of things not seen, it puts them in their being; it is the evidence of things not seen, ⟨p. 23⟩for otherwise it will never work upon you. Especially think on these Four things at that day.
1. The consuming of all things here in the world, which your hearts are so ready to dote upon, and of all carnal and fleshly excellencies which you trust unto, 2 Pet. 3. 11. Seeing these things shall be consumed, what manner of persons ought we to be! If a man that is to make a sea voyage, did know that whatever he brought to shore beside Gold and Pearls, should be consumed as soon as he comes to shore, he would not fraught his ship with those things: if men were assured here is a house where you and yours shall be burnt, they would set it elsewhere; men come from one Country to another, because sin will consume.