A59665:451
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.
4. When they are most fit to honour Gods Grace by Faith, now they will not believe, not then above any other time: for then a man is most fit to honour Grace, when he feels most need of it: and when hath he most need, but when he feels most emptiness? why now above any other time a man will not come in, but will have somewhat in himself first, and then he will, when his heart is so and so sweetly settled, &c. Hence Luke 14. Poor, and blind, and lame, and halt compelled to come in: one would think there needed not that; but now when fittest, now they will not: for let any man observe what would endear his heart so much to Grace as this: to think if it be the Lords mind to save a poor dead damned creature, then happy I? This is wonderful, this hath quickened dead love, and dead Faith, and a dead heart. And on the other side, if the Lord delay, if it comes not at their own time, then they distrust it; Grace! alas I feel my self never a whit better: For there be two things in Faith,
4. When they are most fit to honour Gods Grace by Faith, now they will not believe, not then above any other time: for then a man is most fit to honour Grace, when he feels most need of it: and when hath he most need, but when he feels most emptinesse? why now above any other time a man will not come in, but will have somewhat in himself first, and then he will, when his heart is so and so sweetly setled, &c. Hence Luke 14. Poor, and blind, and lame, and halt compelled to come in: one would think there needed not that; but now when fittest, now they will not: for let any man observe what would endear his heart so much to Grace as this: to think if it be the Lords mind to save a poor dead damned creature, then happy I? This is wonderful, this hath quickened dead love, and dead Faith, and a dead heart. And on the other side, if the Lord delay, if it comes not at their own time, then they distrust it; Grace! alas I feel my self never a whit better: For there be two things in Faith,
First, A coming to Christ, which is our work, i. e. Gods work in us.