A59665:550
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.
SECT. VII.
Hence learn to judge of your Faith,1 whether it be of the right make or no? whether it be such a Faith as will never fail you, but shall in deepest miseries, in sorest agonies, and most furious temptations; nay in greatest sins and desertions, be indeed a friend unto you? Is it such a Faith as pitcheth on, and closeth with the person of Christ himself, and him alone? So that all the delights in creatures quiet thee not, unless thou canst find him through them; Nay no Ordinances cheer thee, unless thou canst see him in them: Nay, Heaven it self will not content thee, but him in Heaven, Psal. 73. 25. And hence 'tis him thou seekest, 'tis him thou feet, 'tis him thou approvest thy self unto, and servest: So that 'tis this Rock of ages thou trustest to, Isa. 26. 3, 4. 'Tis his strength thou art strong by, 'tis his life thou livest by, 'tis the Lord himself that thy Faith fathoms. This is right, 1 Pet. 2. 7. For now what good can the Father deny thee, when he hath given a Son to thee? What hurt can Satan do thee by all his shakings, when thou hast the Son himself, this corner-stone, this horn of salvation to support thee? What hurt can the Law do thee, when thou hast righteousness in a Son? What hurt can delusion do thee, when thou hast wisdom ever plotting for thy good, in such a glorious Head as the Son? What hurt can death do thee, or sin do thee, when thy life is in the Son? Oh lead me to the Rock, saith David, that is higher than I. Oh here is a rock higher than death, than grave, than sin, than Satan, Who can hurt thee now? But oh Beloved, how many fall short of entering into this rest? and closing with this person? And ⟨p. 80⟩there are four sorts of them, that spin the finest thread of deceit to themselves▪ that think they believe when yet they have not the Son.