A59665:557
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.
3. Those that close not with Promises only, but with Christ himself, but it's only with the Image and fancy of him, which they think is himself. In true Faith the Father reveals the Son as he is, or the Son reveals himself as he is, and Faith hence closeth with him as he is, John 6. 40. But some there be that hear of him, hence think what he is. Hence a carnal mind imagines of him as it imagines of a King in a far Country, and falls down to his Image, and trusts to it, and depends on it, and joys in it, until a man comes to be converted, or to dye: and then he sees the deceit. Or if he did see him, yet he can see no beauty in him to desire him. There is many a man in this case that trusts to, and joys in Christ, whom if he did know he would loath. John came preaching the Gospel to show them Christ, they all came to him, and rejoiced in his light, but it was but for a season: for when he came to show them there he is, John 1. 29. not one man stirs when he shows them Christ, and vers. 35. only two: and chap. 3. 32. No man received his testimony. This is (Beloved) the great sin and cause of all the rest, if they had known they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory. Christ is not seen, hence not thought of, hence not esteemed; hence men boast not in him: ⟨p. 82⟩Nay 'tis the great plague under means, that in seeing they see no•. Lord how long: You say Christ never so clearly seen, true, but thou in seeing mayest not see; and if it be thus, then look for ruin, Isai. 6. 9, 10, 11, 12. We say Christians want not light, but life and affections. Oh beg for light that will bring affections, else all affections will dry up if not fed with this Spring, John 5. 37. What people had such means as they, yet they not eyes to see?
3. Those that close not with Promises only, but with Christ himself, but it's only with the Image and fancy of him, which they think is himself. In true Faith the Father reveals the Son as he is, or the Son reveals himself as he is, and Faith hence closeth with him as he is,