A59665:371
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. II.
This is not all that which makes you ready for Christ, unless your love is set and fixed on him:1 and therefore look that it be ready. I doubt not but that there is glowing in your hearts, some love to the Lord, it cannot be that all should be quenched, that all his kindness should be forgotten, but remembered many times with some affliction: but know it, if it be so, your lamp is not yet in your hand, nor your Souls ready to meet the Lord: For look as 'tis with a mighty Prince that shall set his heart on some poor servant, and he requires no portion but to love him the more, and she cannot bring her heart to love him more than other mean Fellows, is she fit or ready to be Matched unto him? So here: hence. Mat. 10. 37. He that loves Father or Mother, &c. then you are ready when your love is fit for such an Husband; and therefore though you feel some love under the ashes (when you stir up your hearts) to the Lord Jesus, yet if it be not a fit love beseeming his Excellency, and the Glory of his Person, when you can draw out buckets of love, and pour it upon other things, but scarce fetch out a drop for Christ, and yet you hope that will serve the turn; I tell you no, you are yet unfit and unready for him. Look as it was with their offering the Testimonies of love and thankfulness, Mal. 1. 14. so it's here. And therefore my Exhortation shall be as 'tis said in that Psalm,2 Give unto the Lord the kingdoms of ⟨p. 52⟩the earth. Give unto the Lord the honour due unto his Name: So give to the Lord the love that is due unto him, that love that is fit for him.
THis is not all that which makes you ready for Christ, unlesse your love is set and fixed on him: