Ten virgins - Shepard - XIII - Chapters 6, 7, 8 & 9
Required reading
Ten virgins by Thomas Shepard (Available from Amazon or free here). Read Chapters 6, 7, 8 & 9.
My summary
Today's reading tidies up Shepard's observations about the cry of the bridegrooms voice which we began last week. This week we observe:
(i) that though the coming of Jesus Christ to His churches be late, yet it is certain;
(ii) such is the compassion of Christ to His people, that deep security can not always make the Lord reject them, and there we find expressions of the love and kindness of the Lord to the wise and foolish virgins.
Next we look at what is indicated by the virgins rising and trimming their lamps. We observe:
(i) that the serious real apprehension of the nearness of Christ's coming is enough to awaken thoroughly the most secure virgins;
(ii) that the spirit of holiness abiding in the hearts and shining in the lives of saints, it is their excellency, ornament, and glory.
What grabbed me
Some good advice about how to make Christ's return feel imminent: 'Question. How shall I make it near? Answer. Truly, till the Lord teach us the number of our days, we can never do it. Yet three things do. First. Convince your soul of the sin and evil of looking after tomorrow, and reaching after that time which is to come. Prov. 27:1. (1) It is none of yours. (2.) Nothing draws the heart so much from God. (3.) You will never find what you expect here; these are lying vanities, therefore come not to these wells.'
I only gave the first thing we can do (you'll have to do the reading to find the other three) but it is a good one. Don't worry about tomorrow - it is not even yours!
Next week's reading
Read Chapters 10, 11, 12 & 13.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
2 comments:
I found chapter 6 to be particularly good. His comment on the different aspects and timings of the Lord's coming were particularly helpful especially concerning the interpretation of prophecy, and the last day. "... and because particular examples and instances are the roots of general truth, (as circumcision a seal, so all sacraments are so; Christ is a Savior of his people; it is meant of great salvation at last, yet is true of all salvation beside,) therefore I shall speak of the coming of Jesus Christ to his churches and servants in the general; and so involve the whole coming of Christ, for the more use and comfort to us."
I also enjoyed this beautiful and comforting passage: "Christ will come at last, and forever comfort you, and be with you, and you ever with the Lord; this coming to be sure shall be, and what then though you walk through the vale of the shadow of death? the Lord is with you; and Him that is the glory of saints, the joy of angels, the rest and delight of God, whom all the ends of the earth have looked unto, shalt thou see with those eyes, and be with him forever...." All and every single trial, tribulation, sorrow, pain and burden in this life will be as naught when we see the Lord with our eyes! O glorious day!
CJ, Glad to see you're enjoying Shepard. He is not the easiest to read but certainly pays off.
Your second quote is definitely a good one. It was actually my runner up for 'what grabbed me' in this reading.
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