A59665:1965
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. Truly till the Lord teach us the number of our days, we can never do it: yet three things do;
First, Convince thy soul of the sin and evil of looking after to morrow, and reaching after that time which is to come, Prov. 27. 1. 1. It is none of thine. •. Nothing draws the heart so much from God. 3. You will never find what you expect hence; these are lying vanities, therefore come not to these wells.
Secondly, Either thou wantest assurance, then fear his coming, for fear will make misery present, and so awaken; and hope (è contra) good present: Or thou hast assurance; then love his coming, see all thy good wrapped up there; and love will make things absent beloved, and present comfort in the thoughts of them; as wicked men that love the things of this life, and are in certain hopes to have them, they oft rejoice in the hopes; because the good is present, they reckon upon it as theirs already.
Secondly, Either thou wantest assurance, then fear his coming, for fear will make misery present, and so awaken; and hope (è contra) good present: Or thou hast assurance; then love his coming, see all thy good wrapt up there; and love will make things absent beloved, and present comfort in the thoughts of them; as wicked men that love the things of this life, and are in certain hopes to have them, they oft rejoyce in the hopes; because the good is present, they reckon upon it as theirs already.