A59665:947
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.
II. Those that content themselves with the revelation of the Lords love, without the sight of any work, or not looking to it. I desire the Lord to reveal himself abundantly more and more, to all that have the Lord savingly revealed unto them. For this is the misery, Christ is a hidden thing, and so is his love: Yet consider,
1. God reveals not his love to any Hypocrite, but to his people, that have a work far beyond them.
2. That the testimony of the Spirit doth not make a man a Christian, but only evidenceth it. As 'tis the nature of a witness, not to make a thing to be true, but to clear and evidence it. And therefore whether the Spirit in the first or second ⟨p. 140⟩place clears Gods love, I dispute no•, because 'tis doubtful; yea be sure you find out the difference, viz. some work in you, that no Hypocrite under Heaven hath: Else what peace can you have?
2. That the testimony of the Spirit doth not make a man a Christian, but only evidenceth it. As 'tis the nature of a witnesse, not to make a thing to be true, but to clear and evidence it. And therefore whether the Spirit in the first or second ⟨p. 140⟩place clears Gods love, I dispute no•, because 'tis doubtful; ye be sure you find out the difference, viz. some work in you, that no Hypocrite under Heaven hath: Else what peace can you have?