A66111:1105
The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being…
The truly blessed man, or, The way to be happy here, and forever being the substance of divers sermons preached on Psalm XXXII / by Samuel Willard.
printed by B. Green and J. Allen for Michael Perry, 1650
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.
3. He can serve the Lord with freedom in the midst of all afflictions. They are the disquietments on our minds, that obstruct our cheerful obedience, when troubles are on us; but he being serene, hath no hindrance in that regard; he is not put from his work by these, Psal. 44. 17. These things can neither fright him from, nor discourage him in his business: they may awaken and quicken him to more diligence in it, but cannot drive him from it.
3. He can serve the Lord with freedom in the midst of all afflictions. They are the disquietments on our minds, that obstruct our chearful obedience, when troubles are on us; but he being serene, hath no hindrance in that regard; he is not put from his work by these, Psal. 44. 17. These things can neither fright him from, nor discourage him in his business: they may awaken and quicken him to more diligence in it, but cannot drive him from it.
4. He hath inward joy in and under all these changes. He feels, and cannot but resent outward troubles; he is not a stock or a stone, hath humane senses and affections: but he possesseth a spiritual joy within, which all this cannot extinguish. The apprehension of Gods love, the peace within, have such sweetness in them, that they abate the bitterness of the affliction, and give him abundant consolation under them; if he remembers his faults, he can kiss the rod: if he ⟨p. 377⟩suffer in the outward man, he can rejoice because the inward man is safe, 2 Cor. 4. 16. And if there be nothing else, he hath still a God to rejoice in, Hab. 3. 17, 18.