A59665:450
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.
3. Grace that hath been shown, for times past they forget it, 2 Pet. 1. 9. And ⟨p. 64⟩what is this but destroying Gods Grace? for why is Grace so precious at first conversion, that Heaven and Earth are too little to hold praises enough for it? And afterward, the Lord hath little love; Oh you forget what once you were, and what the Lord hath done, hence 1 Tim. 1. 13, 14. I was so and so, &c. but now have received abundant Grace. You have had many meetings with God, many answers from God, many consolations and times of refreshing and reviving, and these forgotten and buried, the life of them after a year or two expired. And what is this but eclipsing Gods Grace? On the other side, as for Grace for time to come, they fear it, especially when worms and no men in their own eyes. Hence saith God, Fear not worm Jacob, Isai. 41. 14. There is a certain Divining Spirit (as one once told me) that until that was pulled out, no honour can the Lord get. Before you come to Word or Prayer, thou wilt fear thou shalt never get any good; and when the Lord gives any, thou wilt fear thou shalt never hold out; and what Promise soever is made, thou wilt fear thou shalt never find it. And what doth this but eclipse Grace? we should go with boldness to the Throne of Grace; nay hence let the Lord send never so much Mercy for the Present, a Fear will cut off all, that all this will rise up in Judgement against me.
3. Grace that hath been shewen, for times past they forget it, 2 Pet. 1. 9. And ⟨p. 64⟩what is this but destroying Gods Grace? for why is Grace so precious at first conversion, that Heaven and Earth are too little to hold praises enough for it? And afterward, the Lord hath little love; Oh you forget what once you were, and what the Lord hath done, hence 1 Tim. 1. 13, 14. I was so and so, &c. but now have received abundant Grace. You have had many meetings with God, many answers from God, many consolations and times of refreshing and reviving, and these forgotten and buried, the life of them after a year or two expired. And what is this but eclipsing Gods Grace? On the other side, as for Grace for time to come, they fear it, especially when worms and no men in their own eyes. Hence saith God, Fear not worm Iacob,