A59665:792
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. That he may corrupt it, if he cannot divide it, that the Tares may suck out the heart and life and power of Godliness in the hearts of the Elect; for you know 'tis not the Briar but the Iv• that sucks out the life and sap of the tree, and 'tis not profane pricking persecutors, but seeming friends to the Church, that suck out the heart and life of it. It was not Jeroboam's greatness, but the old Prophets gravity and seeming Piety that sucked out the Spirit and Sap of the young Prophet, 1 Kings 13. That so by this little Leaven he may defile the whole lump, and so provoke wrath against them all.
2. That he may corrupt it, if he cannot divide it, that the Tares may suck out the heart and life and power of Godlinesse in the hearts of the Elect; for you know 'tis not the Briar but the Iv• that sucks out the life and sap of the tree, and 'tis not prophane pricking persecutors, but seeming friends to the Church, that suck out the heart and life of it. It was not Ieroboams greatnesse, but the old Prophets gravity and seeming Piety that suckt out the Spirit and Sap of the young Prophet, 1 Kings 13. That so by this little Leaven he may defile the whole lump, and so provoke wrath against them all.
3. If he cannot do either, yet that he may blur and stain the Glory of the Church: For the greatest Glory in the world is to see a Temple built, not of sto••• of Gold or Pearl, but of living precious Saints, holy to the Lord only and his Son, and the sight of which in Heaven shall be one part of the Glory in Heaven. Hence Satan will do what he can to blur it; that though the greatest Glory God hath, shines in his Church, yet that he may blur it: And hence Jude saith, Some that crept in unawares, were Spots in their Feasts. And