A66111:1505
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. Here is matter of counsel for Sinners;
1. Beware of confiding in your carnal reason: Vain man would be wise, &c. Job 10. 12. They who have the least wisdom, are most conceited of themselves and think they have the greatest reason for what they do. Well, you are wise then, but let me tell you, the worlds wise men go wisely to hell. All their •easonings for sin are brutish, and are counted wisdom only by the fleshly part. When therefore you find that you incline to hearken to these, ask, •ut are not these the disputings of the flesh, and if •o, they will be found folly in the end.
1. Beware of confiding in your carnal reason: Vain man would be wise, &c. Job 10. 12. They who have the least wisdom, are most conceited of themselves and think they have the greatest reason for what they do. Well, you are wise then, but let me tell you, the worlds wise men go wisely to hell. All their •easonings for sin are brutish, and are counted •isdom only by the fleshly part. When therefore you find that you encline to hearken to these, ask, •ut are not these the disputings of the flesh, and if •o, they will be found folly in the end.
2. Be then convinced of the folly that cleaves to you. God himself hath declared every unregenerate man •o be a born fool, and gives this for the reason why ⟨p. 478⟩they will not be persuaded, Psal. 58. 3, 4. If eve• you become truly wise, you must be convinced o• this, 1 Cor. 3. 17. The first lesson that sinful man •• to learn in wisdoms School, is that he himself is •• fool; which, if any thing, will put him on enquiring after wisdom. Many might have arrived a• true wisdom, but for a conceit they had that they were already wise. And if you will compare th• sentiments of carnal reason, with the dictates o• the word of God, you must either charge them with foolishness, or confess your wisdom to be so.
2. Be then convinced of the folly that cleaves to you. God himself hath declared every unregenerate man •o be a born fool, and gives this for the reason why ⟨p. 478⟩they will not be perswaded, Psal. 58. 3, 4. If eve• you become truly wise, you must be convinced o• this, 1 Cor. 3. 17. The first lesson that sinful man •• to learn in wisdoms School, is that he himself is •• fool; which, if any thing, will put him on enquiring after wisdom. Many might have arrived a• true wisdom, but for a conceit they had that they were already wise. And if you will compare th• sentiments of carnal reason, with the dictates o• the word of God, you must either charge them with foolishness, or confess your wisdom to be so.
3. Let this conviction drive you to God, to beg of him to restore you to your understanding again. The direction is, if any lack wisdom, let him ask it of God, Jam. 1. 5. And who is there that doth not lack it but the exhortation is nextly to such whom the Spirit of God hath made to feel their want, and this made him so earnest on this account, Prov. 30. 2. 3.
4. Now refer your selves wholly to the Divine Oracle. Look upon the Spirit of God to be the author, and the word of God to be the store-house, and the Ordinances to be the Medium of communication, by which you may obtain that Wisdom that is from above, which only will make you wise to Salvation. Remember what that hath told you Job 28. 28. Come then to this School, and humbly wait for his teaching, and so may you arrive at that wisdom which will make you happy; when the worlds wise man, and his wisdom shall perish together.
2. To the Children of God, in whom, God hat• planted the seeds of true wisdom.
1. Be sensible that you have a great deal of this bru••ness remaining in you. We should always look on •s to humble us, and make us fearful of our selves. •o much as there is of the old man in us, so much •olly: David confessed it of himself, 2 Sam. 24. 18. And this censure the Psalmist passeth on himself, and his carnal reasonings, Psal. 73. 22. So foolish […] I, and ignorant, &c. And if we do but observe all […] exorbitant actions, we shall find too much of this every day.
1. Be sensible that you have a great deal of this bru••ness remaining in you. We should always look on •s to humble us, and make us fearful of our selves. •o much as there is of the old man in us, so much •olly: David confessed it of himself, 2 Sam. 24. 18. And this censure the Psalmist passeth on himself, and his carnal reasonings, Psal. 73. 22. So foolish 〈…〉 I, and ignorant, &c. And if we do but observe all 〈…〉 exorbitant actions, we shall find too much of this every day.
2. Let this teach you to beware that you do not lean •o your own understanding. It is the caution, Prov. 3. 5. And the reason is given, Chap. 28. 26. The law in our members will be very forward to give in its foolish arguings, and if we be not careful, we shall be ensnared by them: they will tell us a fair story, and so cheat us. Was not David so trapanned, when he would needs number the people, against all advice to the contrary? Did not Asa, •o so, when he hearkened to his own heart, and persecuted the prophet?
2. Let this teach you to beware that you do not lean •o your own understanding. It is the caution, Prov. 3. 5. And the reason is given, Chap. 28. 26. The law in our members will be very forward to give in its foolish arguings, and if we be not careful, we shall be ensnared by them: they will tell us a fair story, and so cheat us. Was not David so trapan'd, when he would needs number the people, against all advice to the contrary? Did not Asa, •o so, when he hearkned to his own heart, and persecuted the prophet?
3. Let this move us to pity, and bear, and take ••ns with Sinners. Let us not be enraged, though we find them stout, and obstinate, and to despise ou• counsels. He that would tame a beast, must expect that he will carry himself like one. It is for want of understanding; and such were you •ill God enlightened you. Be not then beat out, but follow them with patience and perseverance, waiting on God for his blessing on your endeavours: and though they be now enraged, yet •f ever God make them to come to themselves, they ⟨p. 480⟩will be thankful, and count you their best friends so may you become instruments of their Salv• tion, and that will be to your everlasting com• fort. Dan. 12. 3.
3. Let this move us to pity, and bear, and take ••ns with Sinners. Let us not be enraged, though we find them stout, and obstinate, and to despise ou• counsels. He that would tame a beast, must expect that he will carry himself like one. It is for want of understanding; and such were you •ill God enlightned you. Be not then beat out, but follow them with patience and perseverance, waiting on God for his blessing on your en•eavours: and though they be now enraged, yet •f ever God make them to come to themselves, they ⟨p. 480⟩will be thankful, and count you their best friends so may you become instruments of their Salv• tion, and that will be to your everlasting com• fort. Dan. 12. 3
IT is an ill sign, when men will go no farther in Gods Service, than they are forced by severity. Here lies the force of the argument in the Text. The horse and mule, will not come at you, except you put a bridle on him; let him have his liberty, and he will be gone: and if we act thus, we shall show that we remain under the power of our brutishness which we contracted by the fall. Here take these Conclusions.
IT is an ill sign, when men will go no farther in Gods Service, than they are forced by severity. Here lies the force of the argument in the Text. The horse and mule, will not come at you, except you put a bridle on him; let him have his liberty, and he will be gone: and if we act thus, we shall shew that we remain under the power of our brutishness which we contracted by the fall. Here take these Conclusions.
1. That there is an outward Service which God requireth of his people, consisting in a well ordered Conversation. This is not all, nor will this alone answer his expectation. However, this God doth expect of all that profess themselves to be his people. For, th•ugh men may make a specious show when their hearts are not right, yet if there be not a visible conformity to the Commands of God; it is an open Testimony against such, that they d• not serve him: And it is vain for men to say, they have a good heart, when they lead a disordere• ⟨p. 481⟩[…] Man consists of Soul and Body, and both are ••ng to Gods Service, 1 Cor. 6. 20. There is all […] Strength, as well as all the Heart, to be here laid […], Matth 22. 37. Now this is to be expressed in a well ordered, conversation, Psal. 50. ult. And when Christians universally conform to Gods precepts, then is the• Conversation rightly ordered, Psal 119. ••. And this is, when they observe to do whatsoe•• belongs to them in all the relations they bear, and in every station wherein God sets them: And this God calls for, both of a people in general, and of every person in particular: and according to this, Religion doth either flourish or decay among a people; and God is either honoured or dishonoured by them in the eyes of the world.
1. That there is an outward Service which God requireth of his people, consisting in a well ordered Conversation. This is not all, nor will this alone answer his expection. However, this God doth expect of all that profess themselves to be his people. For, th•ugh men may make a specious shew when their hearts are not right, yet if there be not a visible conformity to the Commands of God; it is an open Testimony against such, that they d not serve him: And it is vain for men to say, they have a good heart, when they lead a disordere
2. That there is some inward principle or motive ex•••g men to this Service, when they do attend it. All that pretend to Religion do not thus order their Conversation. Many that call themselves Christi••• live like Heathen, or worse, and so bring reproach on their Profession. And there is a corrupt principle in the hearts of all men, which ali•• pates them from Gods Service, and fills them with prejudices against it. Now, in all humane actions; there is something that instigates men to do them: •ll external actions of men are Imperate actions, and ••ppose the Elicit acts of the Will, which hath ••de an Election of them, which denominates ••em Voluntary; and that supposeth the foregoing judgment of the Understanding, and the consequent •••itation of the Affections. There is some reason •t prevails with the man in his deliberations, that ⟨p. 482⟩engageth him; for herein men differ from brute Brutes are moved by their Affections, but these […] moved by mere sense and instinct; but, thou•• man be acted by his Affections, yet these are in••• gated by reason and election. How-often therefore are men called upon to Consider? Psal. 119 59. 39. 3. Isa. 1. 3.
2. That there is some inward principle or motive ex•••g men to this Service, when they do attend it. All that pretend to Religion do not thus order their Conversation. Many that call themselves Christi••• live like Heathen, or worse, and so bring re•roach on their Profession. And there is a corpt principle in the hearts of all men, which ali pates them from Gods Service, and fills them with prejudices against it. Now, in all humane actions; there is something that instigates men to do them: ll external actions of men are Imperate actions, and ppose the Elicit acts of the Will, which hath de an Election of them, which denominates em Voluntary; and that supposeth the foregoing dgment of the Understanding, and the confequent itation of the Affections. There is some reason t prevails with the man in his deliberations, that
3. That which renders this Service pleasing to G•• is when it is done with cordial love to him, and •• ways. Though God requireth an outward service, and the neglect of it discovers our disobedience to him; for, if our heart were right, it would prompt us to our duty; yet this alone will not satisfy him▪ as he knows the heart, so he requires it, Prov. ••. 26. Outward services that proceed not from […] principle, are Hypocritical; hence that complaint Psal. 78. 37. Ezek. 33. 31. Now obedience is therefore called love, Gal. 5. 6. 2 Tim. 1. 13. Hence loving God, and keeping of his Commandments […] an inseparable connection, Exod. 20. 6. And indeed love is the closing Affection which carrieth us […] our object, and uniteth us with it, it saith that […] conceive an infinite amiableness and desirable••• in him and his service, and therefore we serve […] with delight.
3. That which renders this Service pleasing to G•• is when it is done with cordial love to him, and •• wayes. Though God requireth an outward service, and the neglect of it discovers our disobedience to him; for, if our heart were right, it would prompt us to our duty; yet this alone will not satisfy him▪ as he knows the heart, so he requires it, Prov. ••. 26. Outward services that proceed not from 〈…〉 principle, are Hypocritical; hence that complaint Psal. 78. 37.
4. That men may be driven to this external ser•• by a principle of fear. There is a two fold […] mentioned in the word of God, one proceeds […] the Spirit of Adoption, the other from a spirit of •• dage: the former of these is a filial fear, and ••• perly belongs to the Children of God; and is essential to new obedience, that all Religion ⟨p. 483⟩frequently called by it; and it is proper to that […] we owe to God, in as much as he is infinitely love us, and the genuine love of an inferior to superior, involves a fear in it, viz. a reverential respect, which makes us keep our distance, and to be very cautious of doing ought that may displease, thus Jacob called God the fear of his father […] Gen. 31. 53. The other fear ariseth from a •••vile Spirit, under which all men, in their natural […] are in bondage: and though the Children of men do generally suppress it; yet God, when he •••aseth, toucheth the Conscience, and awakens it, and then terrors seize it, and the man is horribly […] of the wrath of God. And because, in this •••viction, he is made to know that his sins have •••sed him to this wrath, and assured him that […] live in them, they will bring him to destructi•• it rouseth him up, and sets him on doing duty, and abstaining from sin: but he doth not do this, because he loveth obedience, and hateth sin, but ••••use his Conscience terrifieth him, & he dareth •• no otherwise, and how many such instances are […] Scripture? Hence that remark, Psal. 78. 34.
4. That men may be driven to this external ser•• by a principle of fear. There is a two fold 〈…〉 mentioned in the word of God, one proceeds the Spirit of Adoption, the other from a spirit of dage: the former of these is a filial fear, and perly belongs to the Children of God; and is essential to new obedience, that all Religion
