Ten virgins by Thomas Shepard (Available from Amazon or free here). Read Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 of Part 1.
In Chapter 1 Shepard sets the parable in its context in Matthew's gospel.
Chapter 2 explains that the 'kingdom of heaven' is the visible church because:
(i) Jesus reigns over it;
(ii) it abides by heaven's laws;
(iii) it contains heaven's subjects;
(iv) it shows some signs of the glory of heaven.
Chapter 3 teaches us that the last days that Jesus mentions before the parable are the latter part of the last days.
Chapter 4 is concerned with what it means to be married to Christ- it includes being divorced from all other lovers, particularly the law.
Then in Chapter 5 Shepard continues the thought of the previous chapter, but now provides some signs by which we may examine ourselves to see whether we are in love with something other than Christ:
(i) there is no bitterness and sorrow of heart for the loss of God;
(ii) Jesus is a stranger to you in all his ordinances;
(iii) you find no rest in anything you have.
Then come more signs in Chapter 5, but these are to show whether you are still married to the law:
(i) the law is never dead in you;
(ii) you complain more about the want of grace or righteousness to remove sin and not so much for want of Christ;
(iii) you rejoice more in a little grace you receive from Christ than in all the fullness in Christ;
(iv) you perform duties ultimately to ease your conscience;
(v) you still brood some particular sins.
What grabbed me
Particularly enjoyed his description of what it means to be dead to the law: 'Now, look as it is with a husband, if the wife be sick, and he be at home, whoever forsakes her, he will comfort her, and support and cheer her; so that, if he cheer her not, it is a sign he is dead; if he doth, it is a sign he is alive; for the life of the law is the comfort and support that the law doth give for a time. So that thou wert never brought to that sore strait, that thou hast not felt any one duty to cheer or revive thee and comfort thee; but hast found some little thing or other to do it; it is certain you are yet married to the law.'
When you are troubled about your sin, are your good works your comfort? If yes, then the law is not dead to you.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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