A59665:432
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. Before conversion the main wound of men is their Will, Video meliora proboque dexteriora sequor: Hence John 8. 44. His lusts ye will do. Hence Mat. 23. 37. You would not: they say hence we have a Will, I say no. And hence we answer that great Objection for Possibilities to keep all Laws by universal Grace, which tis unjust to punish for not doing that a man cannot do. We answer, There is a double impotency, Ex infirmitate, or Ex malignitate, when men will not, Prov. 11, 12, 13.
1. Before conversion the main wound of men is their Will, Video meliora proboque dexteriora sequor: Hence Iohn 8. 44. His lusts ye will do. Hence Mat. 23. 37. You would not: they say hence we have a Will, I say no. And hence we answer that great Objection for Possibilities to keep all Laws by universal Grace, which tis unjust to punish for not doing that a man cannot do. We answer, There is a double impotency, Ex infirmitate, or Ex malignitate, when men will not, Prov. 11, 12, 13.
2. Hence it follows after conversion, though the Will is changed, so that a man would but cannot do many things, Ex infirmitate, yet the great cause why he cannot do more is from the remnant of malignity not yet removed. A man will sleep, he loves it, and secretly loathes the ways of the Lord: Hence the Church, Isai. 63. 17. complains of this. A man shall find his heart wills the end exceedingly, but when he comes to will the means, there his heart is weary of them, and loath them; a man will be careless, and this being not seen, is not fought against. Sin is viified, and hence the enemy to all good remains still. It's an old Rule, Tantum possumus, quantum volumus. Get Christ to help here.