A59665:74
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.
2. Self-seeking, a Spirit of self. Look as it is in a Kingdom, if there be a common enemy, and the body of the Army which should encounter with them, be every man taken up, and taking thought how he may preserve his own Tent, and do not join their forces together for common safety, it must perish, and the Kingdom will be easily conquered: Or as it is with the body, if every member seeks to preserve it self alone, and not that which preserves them all, (viz. the Head) the body will drop down and die shortly. Christ Jesus is the Head of this Body [his Church] Now 'tis certain if ye seek to preserve your own name more than Christ's, to give more content to your own lusts, then to the will and heart of Christ, if more careful of fetching feathers to your own nests, and to shift for your selves, and not to attend (every man in his place) the public good of the Church, and Christ in it; 'tis certain God will forsake you, and all will to ruin quickly, 2 Chron. 15. 1, 2.
2. Self-seeking, a Spirit of self. Look as it is in a Kingdom, if there be a common enemy, and the body of the Army which should encounter with them, be every man taken up, and taking thought how he may preserve his own Tent, and do not joyn their forces together for common safety, it must perish, and the Kingdom will be easily conquered: Or as it is with the body, if every member seeks to preserve it self alone, and not that which preserves them all, (viz. the Head) the body will drop down and die shortly. Christ Jesus is the Head of this Body [his Church] Now 'tis certain if ye seek to preserve your own name more than Christ's, to give more content to your own lusts, then to the will and heart of Christ, if more careful of fetching feathers to your own nests, and to shift for your selves, and not to attend (every man in his place) the publick good of the Church, and Christ in it; 'tis certain God will forsake you, and all will to ruine quickly, 2 Chron. 15. 1, 2.
Church-members of public spirits, are ever prosperous men. They shall prosper that love thee,