A59665:503
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.
There are four Things you desire all, which are chiefly laid up in Christ, to that end that you might in all wants quiet your hearts with unspeakable peace there.
1. The free Grace and love of the Father, this is that I hope which you prize most, pray for most, fear the loss of most, would rejoice in the having of most, without which thy life is death, and blessings curses, and death the beginning of Hell. Would you see this love better than life to thee? Oh I cannot see it, or but very little of it. 'Tis true, look upon your selves you can see but little, many fears, many tears, many heart-sorrows, many temptations, many desertions, many vexing sins, many denials to your Prayers; but Oh look up to that Ointment which is poured upon this blessed head, that love that is shed abundantly upon the Son from before all worlds, and look what love, what Grace the Father shows to him, that love is thine; that love in him is shown to thee, 2 Tim. 1. 9, 10. Here stand amazed all ye people of the Lord, you have heard the Lord loves you, and sometime believe it, but being under water, cannot conceive of it, nor see how he loves you, how dearly, how abundantly; Oh look now upon the love of God the Father in the Son, as he loves him, so he loves thee a worm, a Devil, notwithstanding all thy want, all thy sins, all thy miseries, John 17. 23, 26.
1. The free Grace and love of the Father, this is that I hope which you prize most, pray for most, fear the loss of most, would rejoyce in the having of most, without which thy life is death, and blessings curses, and death the beginning of Hell. Would you see this love better than life to thee? Oh I cannot see it, or but very little of it. 'Tis true, look upon your selves you can see but little, many fears, many tears, many heart-sorrows, many temptations, many desertions, many vexing sins, many denyals to your Prayers; but Oh look up to that Ointment which is poured upon this blessed head, that love that is shed abundantly upon the Son from before all worlds, and look what love, what Grace the Father shews to him, that love is thine; that love in him is shewn to thee,