A59665:485
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.
Secondly, At the first coming to Christ it goes to the Lord for life in him, and from him; but here having life already, they go forth to live with him: there the Soul goes out to meet him in the Gospel, in the Promise; here the Virgins go forth to meet him in Glory. There the Soul goes to be justified by him, here the Virgins go to be glorified with him: and therefore 'tis meant of a second going out of the Soul by some special acts of Faith, after that it doth believe, and after 'tis ready for him. And for Explication.
From whence doth the Soul go?1
- 1Quest. 1.
It's chiefly going out of this world by trampling this Moon under her feet,1 by forgetting this her Fathers house, by a holy contempt of it, and a holy dying to it, and all the glory of it. For 'tis a thousand to one if Satan doth not entangle here, if Lot be not taken with Sodom though burnt out there; and if this going out is to enjoy the Lord in another world chiefly, then going out is from the opposite term, from this world. Hence Paul singles out this mercy, Gal. 1. 4. Christ gave himself to deliver us from this present evil world. Oh say men, 'tis a good world, and good being here. 'Tis an evil world: 'tis so when Death comes, but for present 'tis best. No, 'tis a present evil world.
It's chiefly going out of this world by trampling this Moon under her feet,1