A59665:2272
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. X.
OH then do not rest in this,1 that you have now got to partake of the fellowship of Gods people; I confess next to fellowship with God, their fellowship is best and most sweet, 1 Joh. 1. 3, 4. and nothing more powerful to preserve and keep Gods people from Apostasy than this, Col. 2. 5. order and steadfastness in faith are coupled; they that be planted in the Courts of the Lord shall flourish here, nothing increasing Grace more, Col. 2. 19. when many eyes to see by, many hands to help work by: When a man sinned, if one or two men only took up stones to stone the sinner, it may be they might miss, or the man live; but when there be many it is strange if it doth not kill; so out of fellowship of the people of God, one may admonish then another, and it may be he can shift, but here there be many, &c. 2 Cor. 2. 7. When a mans life is going away in a swoon, if one or two be there present only, he may never recover; but when one rubs, another chafes, another holds him, another runs and fetches hot water for him, it is a hundred to one but he escapes. But yet as the best means, if neglected or trusted to, will make men worse, as Caperna•m was worse for Christ's preaching, which they boasted of; so the best means if not trusted to, will make men better; as it is with some Extracts, and Spirits, they will make quick work one way or other.