A59665:1955
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. V.
Object. But should • Christian in Christ use this as a motive to stir up his heart, or no? this is mockery, this Philosophy sends men to; doth Divinity do so? a Christian must be acted by love, not fear.
Object. BUt should • Christian in Christ use this as a motive to stir up his heart, or no? this is mockery, this Philosophy sends men to; doth Divinity do so? a Christian must be acted by love, not fear.
Answ. 1. That which God hath sanctified for this end we may make use of for the attainment of it; now God hath sanctified afflictions, death, and the fear of them for this end, to awaken the secure sinner; Jehoshaphat fears and proclaimeth a fast; Noah feared and built an Ark; Christ himself to the Church of Sardis (to awaken her) professeth he will come as a thief in the night suddenly, 2 Pet. 3. If the heavens shall be dissolved, what manner of persons should we be: It is true, it is hypocrisy for a man to be led only by fear; but it is profaneness (the original of the Sadducees) not to be terrified at all; it is not hypocrisy to be awakened partly by fear to the apprehension of these things; for God hath sanctified them for this end, and though these do not work grace (where there was none before) barely, yet the awakening of conscience, is that whereby the Lord prepares for grace; and this is good in its kind; and it stirs up grace where it was before, as here this cry makes the Virgins to kindle their oil, and set that a burning.