A59665:2436
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. IV.
OF Exhortation: To those that are out of Christ, or do not know that they be in Christ, to labour to get your souls espoused,1 and matched to the Lord Jesus; it is a laudable custom grounded on Scripture, that before marriage there is the time of espousals or contract; and such may know though there be absence for a time, yet that when he saith he will return to marriage, he will come as a husband, though others in the family cannot look for any such thing; so here the great work of the Ministry is to espouse people to Christ; now that they may be presented chaste Virgins unto the Lord Jesus, 2 Cor. 11. 2. you may look then that he shall come as a Bridegroom to comfort you; others cannot look for any such presence of Christ, to them that are not espoused to him now;—Now Christ is gone up to his Kingdom, but let base dust, and vile man hearken, the time is coming, that he shall come in glory to the amazement of the World; before whom all the wicked shall melt, but the Saints shall live in glory, caught up in the clouds of heaven; Christ infinitely rejoicing in them, and they in Christ. Would you have him come thus to you, or as a revenging Judge, and consuming fire for your contempt? •if so, then get your souls espoused to him now.
OF Exhortation: To those that are out of Christ, or do not know that they be in Christ, to labour to get your souls espoused,1 and match't to the Lord Jesus; it is a laudable custome grounded on Scripture, that before marriage there is the time of espousals or contract; and such may know though there be absence for a time, yet that when he saith he will return to marriage, he will come as a husband, though others in the family cannot look for any such thing; so here the great work of the Ministery is to espouse people to Christ; now that they may be presented chaste Virgins unto the Lord Jesus,