THE

PARABLE

OF THE

TEN VIRGINS;

OPENED AND APPLIED:

BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF DIVERS

SERMONS,

ON MATTHEW XXV. I, 14.

Henry

WHEREIN

The Difference between the Sincere Chriftian
and the most refined Hypocrite,

The Nature and Characters of

SAVING AND COMMON GRACE,

THE

Dangers and Diseases incident to moft Flourishing Churches,
or Chriftians, and other Spiritual Truths of greateft
importance, are clearly Difcovered,

and Practically Improved:

BY

THOMAS SHEPARD,

LATE WORTHY AND FAITHFUL PASTOR OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST
AT CAMBRIDGE IN NEW ENGLAND

LUKE XXI. 36.-Watch ye therefore and pray always, that ye may
be accounted worthy to escape all these thugs that shall come
to pass, and to ftand before the Son of man.

VOL. I.

FALKIRK:

PRINTED BY T. JOHNSTON,

FOR R. JOHNSTON, THE PUBLISHER.

THAT to make fure of life eternal, is the one neceffary bufinefs,

that we fons of death have to do in this world, and without which, all our time here is worse than loft, every enlightened mind will cafily acknowledge. This prefent life being by the rule of it, appointed but to this end, to be preparation-time, fpent in a continual care to make ready, that we might have a good meeting with him who shall be seen in this air one day. And whether we look up to heaven, or down to hell; whether we reflect upon our own immortal fouls, or turn our eyes toward the greatness and goodness of that God in Chrift with whom we have to do; whether we pace over the time between this and judgment-day, or fend our thoughts to view the eternity that is to follow after. All things put a neceffity, a folemnity, a glory upon this work.

But difficilia quae pulcbra: It is one of the oracles uttered by our Lord with his own mouth, "Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way "that leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." It is not fo eafy a thing to get to heaven, nor fo broad a way thither, as the flight and loofe opinions of fome, and practices of more would make it, nor as the carnal hearts of all would have it. Though that (if it be examined) is the common fcope of all erroneous conceits (and how reftlefly have the corrupt minds of men laboured therein in all ages, and do in thefe our days) to widen the way to life, to break down the boundaries of this narrow path, and make it broader than ever God made it. Man's carnal heart finds itself pinioned and straitened in the way (the good old way of effectual faith and obedience) that. God has laid out; hence it breaks out on this hand and on that, and will rather pluck up the ancient land-marks of God's truth, than net

A 2

make