A66098:356
Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shown the connection…Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shewn the connexion…
Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shown the connection which there is between the promise, on God's part; and duty, on our part, in the covenant of grace as it was delivered in several sermons, preached in order to solemn renewing of covenant. By Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New-England.Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shewn the connexion which there is between the promise, on God's part; and duty, on our part, in the covenant of grace as it was delivered in several sermons, preached in order to solemn renewing of covenant. By Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New-England.
printed by James Glen for Samuel Sewall, 1682
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.
4. Whether this be not the way to be accepted, notwithstanding all your weakness and infirmities. It is a sincere Souls happiness (as it is an hypocrites misery) that he hath God to deal withal in the Covenant. When you have done your utmost, and taken most pains to prepare your selves for this business, you will still unavoidably bring many and great infirmities with you, but God loves and will accept of truth in the inward part, and whatsoever frailties are with you, yet this is pleadable in the greatest extremities, Isa. 38. 3. I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect Heart. David, had great Sins, yet God casts him not off, because his heart was perfect: Saul did ⟨p. 143⟩many specious things, but God rejects him, his heart was not true to God. Be but sincere, and your Covenanting shall not be in vain.
4. Whether this be not the way to be accepted, notwithstanding all your weakness and infirmities. It is a sincere Souls happiness (as it is an hypocrites misery) that he hath God to deal withall in the Covenant. When you have done your utmost, and taken most pains to prepare your selves for this business, you will still unavoidably bring many and great infirmities with you, but God loves and will accept of truth in the inward part, and whatsoever frailties are with you, yet this is pleadable in the greatest extremityes, Isa. 38. 3. I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect Heart. David, had great Sins, yet God casts him not off, because his heart was perfect: Saul did ⟨p. 143⟩many specious things, but God rejects him, his heart was not true to God. Be but sincere, and your Covenanting shall not be in vain.
2. Consider what is your present design? What is the thing which we intend in renewing our Covenant with God? Is it a mere Ceremony and show, or is it a business of importance? If it be a mere Ceremony, it will come under the just censure of a vain oblation: But if it have some real and material purpose in it, carefully enquire and see what that is: And whether the want of a firm and sixth heart in it, will not evert and disappoint it. The design, then, of this work (if any) is this, viz. To promote and forward a true and through reformation, or (at least) to confirm and settle our selves in a serious and stable Profession and practice of the fear and service of God; to put a strongly and obligation upon our selves to keep close to God and his ways. Now, if the heart be not right in this matter, all will come to nought, and be to no purpose. It is not the least breach of Charity to say, that either no reformation (or to be sure no durable reformation) will follow a verbal and out-side Profession. If the heart do not vow to God as well as the lips, we shall never stand to such vows. The bond of a mere Oral Covenant (let it carry never so fair promises in it) styed of a slip-knot, and a false heart will easily untie […]. And what then is to be expected as the fruit of such a Covenant? It is possible it may bear a little awe upon us for a few days, but it will quickly wear off, & that which here follows in my Text, will be the same which will be consequent upon our engagements: Neither were they steadfast in His Covenant.