A66100:247
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
THE Fountain Opened, &c. › Doctrine 5 › Proposition 2: PROPOSITION. II.
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 II. We also have here a Rule by which to judge of the times. Every one is ready to ⟨p. 123⟩make his remarks on the times that he lives in, & which pass over him, & to judge of them whether the days are good or evil: The generality of men take their measures from the observation of outward Providence; if there be outward peace & plenty, they call them happy days; if outward distress and trouble, they call them evil: but we have a better Rule, and more safe for Christians, and that is, to judge according as this fountain is opened amongst us. The more of Christ that a people enjoy, the happier are they, and the less he is known and acknowledged in his great design of Mediatorship, the greater is the infelicity of such a people; and by this Rule I believe the times are evil in the most places that are called Christian; inasmuch as it is a day wherein the greatest number of those that should preach the Doctrines of Christ, of Redemption, Justification, Sanctification, and Eternal Life to be obtained by him, and so to be the instruments of opening the Fountain to men; do rather endeavour; to obscure them, by perverting the great Doctrine of justification by his Righteousness alone, and confounding New Covenant Obedience with mere Morality, or a legal Righteousness. How contrary are these things •o those which will be the glory of the Times of refreshment!
USE II. We also have here a Rule by which to judge of the times. Every one is ready to ⟨p. 123⟩make his remarks on the times that he lives in, & which pass over him, & to judge of them whether the days are good or evil: The generality of men take their measures from the observation of outward Providence; if there be o•tward peace & plenty, they call them happy days; if outward distress and trouble, they call them evil: but we have a better Rule, and more safe for Christians, and that is, to judge according as this fountain is opened amongst us. The more of Christ that a people enjoy, the happier are they, and the less he is known and acknowledged in his great design of Mediatorship, the greater is the infelicity of such a people; and by this Rule I believe the times are evil in the most places that are called Christian; inasmuch as it is a day wherein the greatest number of those that should preach the Doctrines of Christ, of Redemion, Justification, Sanctification, and Eternal Life to be obtained by him, and so to be the instruments of opening the Fountain to men; do rather endeavour; to obscure them, by perverting the great Doctrine of ustification by his Righteousness alone, and confounding New Covenant Obedience with meer Morality, or a legal Righteousness. How contrary are these things o those which will be the glory of the Times of refreshment!