A59665:501
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.
2. They seek for some good to themselves, in themselves, from themselves; I would fain believe and cannot; I would fain do (says a man) but alas he grows worse and worse; the commandment comes, you will do, there is your task, do it, yet they languish and dye, and why so? Jer. 3. 23. that they might look for help and righteousness in another, In the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel; not from the Mountains the strongest helps and means; in the Lord 'tis alone.
2. They seek for some good to themselves, in themselves, from themselves; I would fain believe and cannot; I would fain do (sayes a man) but alass he grows worse and worse; the commandment comes, you will do, there is your task, do it, yet they languish and dye, and why so? Ier. 3. 23. that they might look for help and righteousness in another, In the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel; not from the Mountains the strongest helps and means; in the Lord 'tis alone.
3. They seek for Grace, and strength, and peace from the Lord Jesus very importunately, and many times very impatiently, and so sinfully too, and the Lord denies them; it hath been better with them than now, therefore they wonder the Lord should be so full, and they so empty, and think sometimes to seek no more, and the Lord denies a dole at this door to, that they might content themselves, and lay up their joys in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 12. 9. My Grace is sufficient; It's strange that Christ so able, so ready to help, yet denies: I confess 'tis sometimes some lust and stumbling-block the Lord Jesus sees, Oh but against that they seek, and truly here is the cause, that having no good from him, they might place all their happiness and felicity in him. Look as it was with Jacob, a great Famine co•es, and all the sacks are s•ent, and they are used roughly, though not hardly nor wrongfully, and all was to bring them to the sight and embracings