A59665:949
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 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?
1. Hereby you come to prevent the strongest delusion that Satan hath to keep men in bondage to himself, viz. to give men great peace, and sometimes great ravishment, while they are in their sins, that so he may harden them there still, Luke 11. 21. Now by taking this course, and going to Christ to untie the knots of Satan, you do now undermine the main plot of Satan, you break his head, having recourse to Christ to do this. His policy is, Let you heart alone, let Christ alone with that. But now you may be sure all your consolation is of the right make.
1. Hereby you come to prevent the strongest delusion that Satan hath to keep men in bondage to himself, viz. to give men great peace, and somtimes great ravishment, while they are in their sins, that so he may harden them there still,