A59665:731
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. Mourn bitterly for the Lords absence as for one of the greatest evils that can befall thee.1 For Christs presence will never be sweet to him that can live without him, and can you look for him then? John 16. 22. You have now sorrow, which he said, filled their hearts, but I will see you again, visit you, come down to you by my Spirit again, and you shall rejoice, and none shall take it away: And therefore its noted, the first that had comfort was Mary, when she sate at the Sepulchre weeping, John 20. 11, &c. And therefore do but observe your own hearts, when your hearts have been soaked in grief, for want of or for the absence of Christ, Oh I have lived without him, and prayed without him, and heard ⟨p. 109⟩without him, and spoke without him, him that hath pitied me, spared me, overcome me, laid down his life, sent his Spirit to me! that then you shall more or less see the Lord, and feel the power and presence of the Lord. Oh Beloved, shall not Heaven be sweet to you without him, and shall earth be sweeter than Heaven, that you can live here without him? Beloved, whatever you account of it now, in Hell the sting of all sorrows shall be this, Oh Christ hides his face? One frown shall be more bitter than death, than a thousand deaths, and shall it be so in Hell, and shall not many frowns, many days be more bitter than death? Shall it be so to Devils, and not to Saints? Shall the hiding of Christs face from enemies be heavy, and shall not his friends take it to heart? If you do not, then think not to meet him, but that Word and Prayer shall be dead drink to thee; but if you do, I tell thee if he manifests himself to any, he will reveal himself to thee.
1. Mourn bitterly for the Lords absence as for one of the greatest evils that can befall thee.1 For Christs presence will never be sweet to him that can live without him, and can you look for him then? John 16. 22. You have now sorrow, which he said, filled their hearts, but I will see you again, visit you, come down to you by my Spirit again, and you shall rejoyce, and none shall take it away: And therefore its noted, the first that had comfort was Mary, when she sate at the Sepulcher weeping,