A59665:878
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.
V. Those that believe,1 but they fail in their end; and these may for a while in a ho• fit prize Water, prize Christ and mercy above all things in the world, but their end is naught; so that men here may ask and never have, because of their Lusts: As a man that lies on his death-bed, or in a Sea-storm in fear of Hell, he may now prize and take hold on Christ to save him. A man lies upon the Bed of horror of heart, he may prize Christ to comfort him, and getting a conceit of it, be wrapped up almost in an extacy of joy, that a man would think he was sealed with the Spirit of Christ, and yet his end being naught, Christ only to comfort him, misseth of Christ in conclusion; for when a man believes indeed, he receives Christ for the end the Father sent him, viz. to be King and Sovereign of the whole man as well as Saviour. Psalm 24. 7. Open your gates that the King of Glory, &c. Rom. 8. 38. I am persuaded nothing shall separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord; our Lord as well as Jesus. Indeed John 6. 15. some did receive Christ to be King, but it was that he might be their cook, he provided loaves for them; so here. Psalm 66. 2, 3. Because of thy power thine enemies shall flatteringly submit: tis but flattery, not Faith; look to it therefore.
V. Those that beleeve,1 but they fail in their end; and these may for a while in a ho• fit prize Water, prize Christ and mercy above all things in the world, but their end is naught; so that men here may ask and never have, because of their Lusts: As a man that lies on his death-bed, or in a Sea-storm in fear of Hell, he may now prize and take hold on Christ to save him. A man lies upon the Bed of horror of heart, he may prize Christ to comfort him, and getting a conceit of it, be wrapt up almost in an extacy of joy, that a man would think he was sealed with the Spirit of Christ, and yet his end being naught, Christ only to comfort him, misseth of Christ in conclusion; for when a man beleeves indeed, he receives Christ for the end the Father sent him, viz. to be King and Soveraign of the whole man as well as Saviour.