A59665:716
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. I remember a sweet speech of one with God, That a Christian ought to prepare for a Sacrament as he would prepare to die, for, saith he, there is but this difference, when we die we then go to Christ, in a Sacrament Christ comes to us. What he said of a Sacrament, I say of every Ordinance, in every Ordinance Christ comes to us, when we die we go to him. Now ought you to long when you are absent from him to be with him, and will you not care for him, nor long to see him and enjoy him when he comes to you? And so be worse than poor naked Indians, Christ comes not to them, no dews fall down on their Gilboahs, no Manna at their Tent doors, and hence they live without him, and desire him not; and when he comes to you, do you see no beauty in him now why you should desire him? Will you thus requi•e him for his love, ah foolish children and ••wise?
4. Truly Beloved, you can have but little evidence you do desire the Lord Jesus company in Heaven at the last day, that long not vehemently after him in his Ordinances now. You have followed me in the regeneration, saith Christ, Mat. 19. 28. therefore you shall sit with me upon Thrones. If Christs presence here, a little of himself be burdensome, What will it be in Heaven then? Depart from me, saith Christ, I was in prison and you visited me not. Shall you depart for not visiting an imprisoned, persecuted, sick, sorrowful Christ in midst of miseries, and shall ⟨p. 106⟩not you depart for rot visiting a comforting Christ, a teaching Christ, an entreating, embracing Christ in the midst of his Ordinances. If the Lord tries you with water, with a little of himself here, and you care not for him, long not after him, and hence let all leak out again, How shall the Lord trust you with wine? with full fruition of himself in Heaven?
4. Truly Beloved, you can have but little evidence you do desire the Lord Jesus company in Heaven at the last day, that long not vehemently after him in his Ordinances now. You have followed me in the regeneration, saith Christ,