A59665:727
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.
1. Therefore look as 'tis with a man that receives any common mercy from God, from Christ, if he sees not the Lord Jesus really giving it, he enjoys it, but not Christ in it, though he get some good out of the thing: So let a man receive more knowledge of Truths, and more Truth be discovered, more Promises revealed, more affections and life dropped into the heart, which may do a man some good, yet if he sees them as separated from Christ, if he sees not the Truth as it is in Jesus, if he sees not Promises spoken from Heaven by Jesus, if ⟨p. 108⟩he looks not on all Commands as part of the secret of Jesus, if he receive affections, and by them behold not the Lord Jesus, he doth not at that time enjoy the Lord Jesus. For he now indeed enjoys his gifts, but by these he doth not enjoy him: And therefore then a man may be said to have fellowship with Christ in an Ordinance, when by all the light and life and comfort there, he comes to see him, and sees them all in him, and seeing a transcendent Glory in him, sees and beholds a hidden Glory in them. This Command is a secret of Jesus, this Promise the sweet voice of Jesus, these Consolations the comforts of Jesus, these Messengers the Ministers of Jesus, these Ordinances the Kingdom of Jesus. And therefore look throughout all the Scriptures, you shall see our Fellowship with Christ both in Heaven and here, 'tis expressed by seeing of the Lord, John 17. 24. Psal. 63. 2. & 27. 4. I have oft said to my friends, the great sin of Christians is to see Scriptures, Ordinances, Truths, Commands, Blows, Kindnesses, as not flowing from and abiding in the Lord Jesus, to see them separate from Christ, and not Christ and them together. And hence Promises comfort not, because you receive them not as spoken by Jesus: Commands awe not, because not as the voice of Jesus: Every Truth is not dear, because you see it not as the Bridegrooms voice. Parents that have had rude children, have turned them out of doors, they themselves have sent them money and clothes in pity, but themselves have not been seen, that they might seek for a Fathers face at last: So when God is angry with some of his people, he doth send to them in his Providences and Ordinances, because he pities them, but himself is not seen. Why? That at last they might come home, and seek to see his face again, and say, What good does all this do me, if I see no God?