A59665:1947
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.
2. Why do mens hearts sink with the meanness of their outward condition, and the troubles of it? (for this is security) it is because of this, they do not remember the nearness of the coming of the Lord; it is but a little while longer, and then the God I have chosen will alone be sweet, and he will make me amends for all my troubles, and therefore let me bear up my head a little while. Psal. 39. when Davids heart began to be troubled by seeing others prosperity, his own misery, Lord (saith he) make me to know my end and the measure of my days, mine age is as an hand breadth; hence ver. 7. Lord what hope I for? truly my hope is in thee.
3. Why are men pu•t up with their own excellencies, and filled with such pride and high conce••s of themselves, sometimes of their beauty, sometimes of their apparel, sometime their friends, sometime their esteem, and they value themselves much by this? men consider not the coming of the Lord, which shall stain the pride of all glory, Isa. 23. 8. and that this time is near.
4. Why do people complain they cannot prize the Lord or his Ordinances as they could? why do men on their death-beds then prize it, then pray, then hear? then oh a little mercy, then send for Moses, then the Lord is righteous; and if he show mercy, never such a pattern as I, because now death and Christs coming is near: you do therefore undervalue the gain of Ordinances, because of this;1 if you did, you would glory in nothing but the Lord,