Ten virgins - Shepard - V - Chapters 11 & 12

Required reading
Ten virgins by Thomas Shepard (Available from Amazon or free here).  Read Chapter 11 and 12.

My summary
Today's reading is concerned with exhorting us to be like the virgins and look forward to the coming of Christ.

Chapter 11 teaches us that Christians are now no more of this world but look out of it and verily expect the second coming of Christ.  Thus Shepard encourages everyone to:
(i) take notice that there is such a time and day of the coming of the Lord Jesus;
(ii) behold the happiness of al them that be espoused to the Lord Jesus;
(iii) learn what to judge of those that never look for the coming and company of the Lord Jesus.

Chapter 12 then instructs us that Christian hearts may be with Jesus before our souls and bodies are with him.  Before we die we may see:
(i) the vileness of sins;
(ii) that death is not feared but desired;
(iii) a clear foundation and ground work of longing for fellowship with the Lord Jesus in his ordinances;
(iv) that no Christian ought to content himself with any measure of knowledge or fellowship with the Lord Jesus here;
(v) that we should long to be with the Lord Jesus.

What grabbed me
A great point was made that we can be with Jesus now through delighting in his commands: 'I have oft said to my friends, the great sin of Christians is to see scriptures, ordinances, truths, commands, blows, kindnesses, as not flowing from and abiding in the Lord Jesus, to see them separate from Christ, and not Christ and them together; and hence promises comfort not, because you receive them not as spoken by Jesus.  What good does all this do me, if I see no God? I confess, he that receives gifts from another ought to be thankful; but a heart that loves and longs after the Lord will say. Here is blessing, means, truth, warmth; but, Lord, when wilt thou come thyself? O, labor for this.'

Keeping God's law is a blessing that draws us closer to Jesus.

Next week's reading
Read Chapter 13 and 14.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.