A66111:1343
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.
1. Let us be in love with practical preaching; and the more particular and pressing it is, let it please us the better. Many love to hear learned and accurate Discourses on principles of Religion; but when these Truths are brought home to mens Consciences, and they search and make discoveries of their lives and practices, now they care not for them: but we ought to account this the life of preaching, 2 Cor. 4. 2. 5. 11.
2. Let us our selves enquire what every truth saith to us. If we hear any Gospel Doctrine laid open, let us often be asking our hearts, what doth this ⟨p. 433⟩say to us? What would God have me to learn by this? Doth it lay open no Sin of mine? Is not this a Duty that I have too much neglected? &c. This is better than to apply it to others, and say there is a word for such an one.
3. Beware of prejudice against the close application of truths. Suppose they come home to us, and make deep incision, and lay open our very bosom sins, take heed of rising up against them: it was their great sin, Acts 7. 54. Take heed of the suggestions of the flesh, which are now ready to disturb you, and make you think they hate, and seek to disgrace you.