A59665:952
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.
3. Otherwise you shall be deprived of all that abundant consolation which the Word holds out before you. For suppose you say, I look not to the work of God in me, to receive any consolation from that, or any promise made to that. I look only to the revelation of the Spirit.
Ans. 1. There is never a promise but the Comforter is in it, and they are given for that end, to give strong consolation, now if you look to no work, nor no conditional promise, nor to find the condition in you (which yet Christ must and doth work) Lord! what abundance of sweet peace do you lose? Rev. 7. 17. The Lamb leads them to the living Fountain of waters, and God wipes away all tears: And for ought I know you shall die for thirst that refuse to do it. Oh slow of heart to believe all that the Scriptures have writ! all that God hath spoken! Ought you not thus to be comforted?
But 2. If you look to a Spirit without a work, whilst you do seek consolation from the Spirit, you cannot avoid the condemnation of the Word. You say the Spirit hath spoken peace to you. But do you love Christ? I look not to that, but to the Spirit. Why the Word saith, He that loves not him, let him be Anathema. So, Is the League between your sins and your souls broken? Ans. I look not to that. Why John saith, He that committeth sin is of the Devil, 1 John 3. 8, 9. Are you new creatures? I look not to that. Why the Word faith, Unless you be born again, you cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. And the Lord knows, but on your death-beds, thus Satan may assault you, and then will the Lord say, nay, look to your self. The Word shall be B•lshazzars terror. Consider,