A59665:321
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.
1. The law of Respect and Love requires this of us: when Peter would express his love unto Christ,1 Luke 22. 33. he professeth he was not only ready to go to prison, but to dye with him. Christ hath poor respect and love if men will not so much as be alway ready to receive him: it certainly argues a careless heart that sleights Christ, that is not ever prepared to receive Christ.
1. THe law of Respect and Love requires this of us: when Peter would expresse his love unto Christ,1 Luke 22. 33. he professeth he was not only ready to go to prison, but to dye with him. Christ hath poor respect and love if men will not so much as be alway ready to receive him: it certainly argues a carelesse heart that sleights Chr•st, that is not ever prepared to receive Christ.
- 1Reasons.
2. Because the time of Christs coming is then when we least look for him, vers. 13. Hence a christian ought to be ever ready to receive him. Many of eminent parts, when the Church had most need of them, then are cut down: Many at their first conversion, before they or others almost could tell what to make of them, the Lord hath cropped them in the bud. Men find their hearts unfit and unready, they think hereupon that hereafter they shall get their hearts into better order and tune, when these businesses are over, but yet will live at liberty a little while: why then it's most likely is the Lords time of coming, even now when they think least of it,