A59665:439
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.
First; That the Lord in all his dealings with his people, seeks lastly to bring about the glory of his Grace: he regards nothing men do, if at last they deny him this; He respects not what sins and evils men have, if at last he gets this, for this is his last end: hence all he doth to his people, for his people, by his people, 'tis for this. And hence
1. He leaves them a long time in their Graves and Sins, that they live like other men, which is strange that he that hath loved them so long, should leave them so long to be as bad as any, yet this he doth, because it makes for the praise of his Grace, Ephes. 2. 4, 7, 8. Dead in sin, that in ages to come, &c. And this doth so confound Gods people, that they wish not only Heaven, but Earth, and Ages to come may record this love.
2. Hence out of men fallen, he picks out usually the poorest and vilest, the younger Brother less loved out of a Family, leaves elder, Rom. 9. 11. and the foolish, and weak things, and things that are not, that no flesh might glory, but in the Lord, 1 Cor. 1. 26, 31. and this is strange that the Lord should choose thus, but this he doth to blur the glory of all the world.
2. Hence out of men fallen, he picks out usually the poorest and vilest, the younger Brother lesse loved out of a Family, leaves elder, Rom. 9. 11. and the foolish, and weak things, and things that are not, that no flesh might glory, but in the Lord,