A59665:2186
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.
Secondly, Possession of this good as mine; let a poor man see heaps of gold before him, it satisfies not him, because it is none of his; let a Christian hear of Kingdoms, peace, glory, in and with Christ, yet it satisfies not him; it troubles him the more, if Christ forsake him, and grow strange to him; but to be sure that Christ is mine, this makes the soul do, nay suffer the utmost for Christ, and to know that nothing can separate, &c. as a man that knows he shall kill, and not lose his life, will venture like Sampson upon an host of men; they may wound me, they cannot bind nor slay me, Rom. 8. ult. there is joy and some satisfaction in finding the pearl of great price, what joy when it is possessed!
Secondly, Possession of this good as mine; let a poor man see heaps of gold before him, it satisfies not him, because it is none of his; let a Christian hear of Kingdoms, peace, glory, in and with Christ, yet it satisfies not him; it troubles him the more, if Christ forsake him, and grow strange to him; but to be sure that Christ is mine, this makes the soul do, nay suffer the utmost for Christ, and to know that nothing can separate, &c. as a man that knows he shall kill, and not lose his life, will venture like Sampson upon an hoast of men; they may wound me, they cannot bind nor slay me, Rom. 8. ult. there is joy and some satisfaction in finding the pearl of great price, what joy when it is possessed!
Thirdly, Communication of this good to the soul; let a man have meat and drink, but he cannot come at it when he hath need of it, will this satisfy if it be locked up? let a man have real possession of never so many lands, yet if he hath not the benefit sure to him, as well as the thing, he will never hold out; what am I the better? so that grace satisfies that brings the sold to fruition of the good, that it is now in respect of the benefit of it conveyed to the soul, Psal, 16. 4, 5, the Lord is the portion of my lot and cup, and he maintains both; and hence