A66100:195
The fountain opened, or, The great gospel privilege of having Christ exhibited to sinful…The fountain opened, or, The great gospel priviledge of having Christ exhibited to sinfull…
The fountain opened, or, The great gospel privilege of having Christ exhibited to sinful men wherein also is proved that there shall be a national calling of the Jews from Zech. XIII. I. / by Samuel Willard ...The fountain opened, or, The great gospel priviledge of having Christ exhibited to sinfull men wherein also is proved that there shall be a national calling of the Jews from Zech. XIII. I. / by Samuel Willard ...
printed by B. Green for Samuel Sewall Junior, 1700
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.
USE. III. Let this serve to direct Sinners in their right coming to Christ, if they would ⟨p. 99⟩have him be a fountain of saying good to them. Herein only will Christ really profit us, if we may obtain Salvation by him; & there is a so coming to him, if we would have grounded hopes of obtaining this benefit from him. And it is to be feared that many deceive themselves about this, who pretend to a great respect for Christ, and talk much of their trusting in him; but were never rightly informed about him, and that for which he was manifested to us. Would you then come, and speed, and be happy in your coming to him, take these Directions.
1. Take heed to your selves, what you come to him for. If you mistake here, you will put a cheat upon your own Souls. Christ indeed is a Fountain, but of what? What was he opened for? that is it which you are encouraged by; and your ends must be the same with his, if you would not be disappointed. Hypocrites pretend much, but they ever impose upon themselves in this regard. If you come to Christ for Credit, and Ease, and Prosperity in this World, you will find your selves mistaken; he hath assured you that you shall meet with trouble and reproach, and many trials in his Service, Joh. 16. ult. In this world you shall have tribulation; his Kingdom is not of this world If you come to him only to have your Sin pardoned, and not purged away, you will miss of your aim; for tho ⟨p. 100⟩he must apply a pardon to you, if ever you obtain it, yet his Justification and Sanctification are inseparable; and if you seek not the destruction as well as the remission of your sins, you will find your selves disappointed. Be sure then to come for the purging away of your sins; that being pardoned, you may Serve him in newness of life.
1. Take heed to your selves, what you come to him for. If you mistake here, you will put a cheat upon your own Souls. Christ indeed is a Fountain, but of what? What was he opened for? that is it which you are encouraged by; and your ends must be the same with his, if you would not be disappointed. Hypocrites pretend much, but they ever impose upon themselves in this regard. If you come to Christ for Credit, and Ease, and Prosperity in this World, you will find your selves mistaken; he hath assured you that you shall meet with trouble and reproach, and many trials in his Service,