A59665:249
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.
1. If the soul feel no power to act from Grace received,1 as Saints sometimes do, either after Gods deserting them, or their forsaking God long, or after some hardening sin; then 'tis clear the soul in this case is (though not in a way of carelessness) to depend upon the Lord Jesus, that he would quicken and help. As David after his gross fall, Lord create in me a clean heart. And Isa. 63. 17. Why hast thou hardened our hearts from thy fear? Oh return ! In this case the soul is not to bring the soul to God, but God to the soul. As many a Christian cannot prize not love the Lord not his ways, he is not to say, I will bring my soul and offer it to him; but look to the Lord that he would raise up my dead affections again. As the Centurion of his Servant, Speak the word, &c. Christ marvelled at his Faith. Men think when they feel nothing, that they must and can work it out; and hence comes one of these three things.
1. If the soul feel no power to act from Grace received,1 as Saints somtimes do, either after Gods deserting them, or their forsaking God long, or after some hardning sin; then 'tis clear the soul in this case is (though not in a way of carelesseness) to depend upon the Lord Jesus, that he would quicken and help. As David after his grosse fall, Lord create in me a clean heart. And Isa. 63. 17. Why hast thou hardned our hearts from thy fear? Oh return ! In this case the soul is not to bring the soul to God, but God to the soul. As many a Christian cannot prize not love the Lord not his waies, he is not to say, I will bring my soul and o•fer it to him; but look to the Lord that he would raise up my dead affections again. As the Centurion of his Servant, Speak the word, &c. Christ marveiled at his Faith. Men think when they feel nothing, that they must and can work it out; and hence comes one of these three things.
- 1Answ. 1.