A59665:1786
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.
Answ. 1. By pondering that speech of Christ, spoken to that end, Matth. 24. 44. In an hour you think not of he comes; so that either thy time is, when thou thinkest it is nigh, and then you attain the thing; or when far off, why then is the time, and that he will not come presently is more then you can say; you see with wrong eyes, and wrong the Lords patience.
2. By comparing the present time with eternity to come; for look as it is with base and little things, look upon them in themselves, they are not base, but compared with things excellent, as the Prophet showeth, Isa. 40. 17. so the time of this life, grant it be never so long, look upon it in self, it is long; but compared with eternity, it is exceeding short: Set a prick alone and you may perceive it, but when made at the beginning of a line it is scarce perceptible; this time of life upon which we sit is but a point of eternity: Oh eternity will amaze you, and make this time short, yea, nothing; Moses hence forsook Pharaohs honour, because of the pleasures of sin for a season; and Paul ⟨p. 30⟩calls afflictions short, when he saw the eternal glory which should be revealed: Oh that you could think this time to be as the delivery of a child by many pangs into the world, so you by many sorrows are passing a short passage to eternity.
2. By comparing the present time with eternity to come; for look as it is with base and little things, look upon them in themselves, they are not base, but compared with things excellent, as the Prophet sheweth, Isa. 40. 17. so the time of this life, grant it be never so long, look upon it in self, it is long; but compared with eternity, it is exceeding short: Set a prick alone and you may perceive it, but when made at the beginning of a line it is scarce perceptible; this time of life upon which we sit is but a point of eternity: Oh eternity will amaze you, and make this time short, yea, nothing; Moses hence forsook Pharoahs honor, because of the pleasures of sin for a season; and Paul