A59665:397
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.
Quest. What is the real sweetness of the Creature?
Quest. What is the real sweetnesse of the Creature?
Answ. Christs love: Oh see this, if Christ should not love thee, would not thy life be death, thy Salvation from many dangers be Damnation, thy Friends miserable comforters, thy joys sorrows? what good would any thing do thee if thou hadst these thoughts, all these I have, but wrath with them? What comfort can a man take in his Feast, if news were then brought that after 'tis done, you must go to the stake to be burnt? You that joy in your pastimes, one frown of Christ would blast all. Oh see this, Psalm 63. Thy loving-kindness is better than life, in thy favour is life. Now joy for this, and this will knit your heart nearer to him. For Jesus sake ponder this Point.
Answ. Christs love: Oh see this, if Christ should not love thee, would not thy life be death, thy Salvation from many dangers be Damnation, thy Friends miserable comforters, thy joyes sorrows? what good would any thing do thee if thou hadst these thoughts, all these I have, but wrath with them? What comfort can a man take in his Feast, if news were then brought that after 'tis done, you must go to the stake to be burnt? You that joy in your pastimes, one frown of Christ would blast all. Oh see this, Psalm 63. Thy loving-kindnesse is better than life, in thy favour is life. Now joy for this, and this will knit your heart nearer to him. For Jesus sake ponder this Point.
Now 2. Taste the bitterness of the sweetness remaining now 'tis distilled; and Satan shows a Three-fold sweetness, before, in, and after the enjoying of it.