A59665:962
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.
1. By meditation of the work, in comparing it with the Rule, for no dead creature can perform one spiritual living act of life, no not a good thought, though they may think of good things. Now the Lord hath given to his people a most exact Rule of life, hence by meditation they may see how far it agrees or disagrees with the Rule, and judge of a living act by it; and so of the God and Lord of life to be there. Hence try your selves, know you not Christ is in you, &c. And hence I never knew yet a thinking Christian deceived, and hence I fear all that make not this their trade, will be to seek, and so to begin again: Oh the Lord teacheth his people hidden mysteries by this.
2. By the operation and working of it, for Grace may be in the heart, and yet lying asleep, and raked up under the ashes, not seen, not felt, but in the operation of it, it may, which is peculiar as the form is. For how do we know we love or delight in any creature? By the operation of love and delight. How did Christ manifest to the Pharisees that they were of their Father the Devil? Why his lusts they would do. So how can any tell he knows the Lord, or loves the Lord, or believes in the Lord! The operation discovers it, James 2. 22. And hence, Gal. 5. 6. Faith which works by Love. And though hypocrites act like them, yet there is a peculiar virtue in the one that is not in the other.
2. By the operation and working of it, for Grace may be in the heart, and yet lying asleep, and raked up under the ashes, not seen, not felt, but in the operation of it, it may, which is peculiar as the form is. For how do we know we love or delight in any creature? By the operation of love and delight. How did Christ manifest to the Pharisees that they were of their Father the Devil? Why his lusts they would do. So how can any tell he knows the Lord, or loves the Lord, or beleeves in the Lord! The operation discovers it,