A66111:1510
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.
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⟩
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
5. That Unregenerate and carnal Professors have […] of this love in them, and are therefore acted by […] fear. To love God, and to make a free choice […] his service, is a fruit of special saving Grace, […] found in none but the Regenerate. There is a […] love which men are sometimes, for a fit, sti•••ated by, viz. When God hath remarkably delivered them from some great trouble, they are for while affected with it, and very zealous: but it ⟨p. 484⟩is soon over, and they grow cold: or they Idoli•• the mercy, and forget the author: but this fear •• the root of the carnal mans Obedience, Isa. 33 •• Most Hypocrites have an •wakened Conscience and a legal spirit attending it, which drives the• to duty as a drudgery, and keeps them to it as •• severe master. Conscience tells the man, there •• hell and damnation, or there are terrible Ju••• ments, &c. and thus, like a dog, he dares not […] upon the thing that he would •ain be at, lest •• should be beaten for it. And indeed, by this […] God holds the command of mens Consciences, and by it, he in a great measure governeth the world, and restrains the unruly lusts of men from bre•• ing forth into that height of exorbitancy, which otherwise they would soon rush into, i• left with••• any bridle upon them, whose heart is set in them to •• evil; and would carry them to the height that the greatest monsters of men ever arrived at.
5. That Unregenerate and carnal Professors have 〈…〉 of this love in them, and are therefore acted by fear. To love God, and to make a free choise his service, is a fruit of special saving Grace, found in none but the Regenerate. There is a love which men are sometimes, for a fit, stiated by, viz. When God hath remarkably devered them from some great trouble, they are for while affected with it, and very zealous: but it
6. That there is a mixture of these in Gods […] Children; and their love is not always so powerful, […] so they are sometimes exposed to this fear. What •• remarked in, 1 Joh. 4 18. is not accomplished •• this life; perfect love casteth out fear. The […] have sinful corruption remaining in them, & th•• sometimes so prevalent, that it suppresseth the •• gorous exercise of Grace, and they are led captive •• the law in their members: and, as God makes use •• the Spirit of bondage in the Conversion of his •• lect, so sometimes he awakens it in believers, wh•• they grow remiss in their obedience: for, though they do not receive it again, yet▪ it not being who•• ⟨p. 485⟩taken away, it is sometimes roused in them. They ••ve a rooted love of God, but the exercise is •••ped by sinful temptations, and God terrifies ••em, and makes his judgments to amaze them, Psal. 119 120. Job 31 23. How often doth David ••••lain of terrors that affright him, of arro•• […] stick in him, and drink up his spirits? But there •••••erence between that in the Children of God, […] in unregenerate men; in these they proceed •• further, rise no higher; whereas in those, they […] to awaken their love again, and revive their […]: these fears help forward their Repentance. […] This fear hath a force in it, and will carry men further than it drives them. There is a vast disnce between the motives that arise from this […] and those that proceed from love. There is eet attractive in love, because it naturally cra union with its object, which carrieth it forth […] great spontaneity. Love would always be […] and please its beloved. Whereas there is more of compulsion in fear; though it also works […] the man, and puts him on a choice, yet it is not olute, but hypothetical. In a word, love seeth an ableness, a desirableness in the Service of God, […] it is in it self good and pleasant, and prefera, Psal 19. 10. Whereas fear alone, doth not take ay that natural averseness that is in us to obence: it alters not our false principles, but we still […] good evil; only it makes us apprehend the dan arising from the threatening, which we count reasonable, but because we cannot otherwise avoid the threatened misery, we choose rather to
our obedience •• like the service of a slave, who must do what he •• bidden, but it is a burden to him, Mal. 1. 13.
our obedienc• •• like the service of a slave, who must do what he •• bidden, but it is a burden to him, Mal. 1. 13.
8. That severe providences are used by God to quic••••• this fear in men. As the promises are of use to •• cite love, so the threatenings to stir up fear; […] the hardness of mens hearts maketh them to ••• pise threatenings; God therefore executeth th•• […] so to make men afraid. Now to these belong […] awful judgments which men in this life are ex••••• ed to. Hence, when Gods people have declined in their obedience, and would not receive coun••• God hath brought some fearful calamity […] them, and this was to let them see that the th•••• nings were not mere scare crows, but realities […] that so the terrors of the Lord might frighten […] into better manners, and put them upon refor•• tion: and this God expected, and threatened […] pursue that course, till it came to this, Levit. 26. ••.
8. That severe providences are used by God to quic••••• this fear in men. As the promises are of use to •• cite love, so the threatnings to stir up fear; 〈…〉 the hardness of mens hearts maketh them to ••• pise threatnings; God therefore executeth th•• 〈…〉 so to make men afraid. Now to these belong 〈…〉 awful judgments which men in this life are ex••••• ed to. Hence, when Gods people have declined in their obedience, and would not receive coun••• God hath brought some fearful calamity 〈…〉 them, and this was to let them see that the th•••• nings were not meer scare crows, but realities that so the terrours of the Lord might frighten into better manners, and put them upon refor tion: and this God expected, and threatned pursue that course, till it came to this,
9. That when God recalls such providences, and ••• eth them prosperity again, they soon fall from their ••• dience. Prosperity hath ever been dangerous to •• sound professors, See Deut. 32. 15. Hence, […] Apostasy under Gods favours, hath procured […] their trouble, and now in their distress they […] think themselves of a reformation. Judg. 10. ••. Now God pities them, and sends them deliveran••. But here is their unhappiness, it was only fear […] drave them to reform, and now this fear wears way, and they forget their promises, and turn agai••• ⟨p. 487⟩[…] their former vain courses, in which they delight••, and their fear did not break them off cordially ••om: hence that remark, Judg. 2. 18, 19. […] 10. And by this God is put upon it to afflict them afresh, and lay a yoke of trouble upon them. How often […] such changes in providence befall the Children […] Israel, because when God enlarged them; they ••••rned to their vomit and mire, and then God provided new troubles to exercise them withal. •sal. 78. 40. &c. 106. 43. Now when it is thus […] a professing people, we may gather two inferences from it.
9. That when God recalls such providences, and ••• eth them prosperity again, they soon fall from their ••• dience. Prosperity hath ever been dangerous to •• sound professors, See
6. That there is a mixture of these in Gods 〈…〉 Children; and their love is not always so powerful, 〈…〉 so they are sometimes exposed to this fear. What •• remarked in, 1 Joh. 4 18. is not accomplished •• this life; perfect love casteth out fear. The 〈…〉 have sinful corruption remaining in them, & th•• sometimes so prevalent, that it suppresseth the •• gorous exercise of Grace, and they are led captive •• the law in their members: and, as God makes use •• the Spirit of bondage in the Conversion of his •• lect, so sometimes he awakens it in believers, wh•• they grow remiss in their obedience: for, thoug• they do not receive it again, yet▪ it not being who•• ⟨p. 485⟩taken away, it is sometimes roused in them. They ••ve a rooted love of God, but the exercise is •••ped by sinful temptations, and God terrifies ••em, and makes his judgments to amaze them, Psal. 119 120. Job 31 23. How often doth David ••••lain of terrours that affright him, of arro•• 〈…〉 stick in him, and drink up his spirits? But there •••••erence between that in the Children of God, 〈…〉 in unregenerate men; in these they proceed •• further, rise no higher; whereas in those, they 〈…〉 to awaken their love again, and revive their 〈…〉: these fears help forward their Repentance. 〈…〉 This fear hath a force in it, and will carry men •• forther than it drives them. There is a vast dis••nce between the motives that arise from this 〈…〉 and those that proceed from love. There is ••eet attractive in love, because it naturally cra••• union with its object, which carrieth it forth 〈…〉 great spontaneity. Love would always be 〈…〉 and please its beloved. Whereas there is more of compulsion in fear; though it also works 〈…〉 the man, and puts him on a choise, yet it is not •••olute, but hypothetical. In a word, love seeth an ••••ableness, a desirableness in the Service of God, 〈…〉 it is in it self good and pleasant, and prefera••••, Psal 19. 10. Whereas fear alone, doth not take ••ay that natural aversness that is in us to obe•••nce: it alters not our false principles, but we still 〈…〉 good evil; only it makes us apprehend the dan••• arising from the threatning, which we count ••reasonable, but because we cannot otherwise avoid the threatned misery, we chuse rather to ⟨p. 486⟩abstain from such sins, and practice such duties, tha• suffer what is denounced. Hence it is an un••• ling willingness that is produced:
