A66111:1532
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. The best among them are too much carnal. Though not altogether flesh, yet they carry too much flesh about them; the Children of God have a rebellious party in them, Paul complains of it, Rom. 7. 23, 24. And this corruption in them is unruly, and too hard for them, which occasioneth their growing into spiritual indispositions, which are attended with neglect of duty, and sometimes woeful ••••arications.
2. The best among them are too much carnal. Though not altogether flesh, yet they carry too much flesh about them; the Children of God have a rebellious party in them, Paul complains of it, Rom. 7. 23, 24. And this corruption in them is unruly, and too hard for them, which occasion•th their growing into spiritual indispositions, which are attended with neglect of duty, and sometimes woful ••••arications.
3 Hence they cannot be long without affliction. A long continued state of prosperity would do them […]; the corruption in them will take advantage •• draw them into carnal security, and sinful de•••••res from God. Let ungodly men have their […] desire, and they will abuse it; and Gods Children cannot bear too much dandling in the lap of Providence: if Davids mountain stand strong, •• grows careless, Psal. 30. 5. Such a people therefore would gather abundance of filth to themselves, as the Sea doth in a calm.
3 Hence they cannot be long without affliction. A long continued state of prosperity would do them 〈…〉; the corruption in them will take advantage •• draw them into carnal security, and sinful de•••••res from God. Let ungodly men have their 〈…〉 desire, and they will abuse it; and Gods Children cannot bear too much dandling in the lap of Providence: if Davids mountain stand strong, •• grows careless, Psal. 30. 5. Such a people therefore would gather abundance of filth to themselves, as the Sea doth in a calm.
4. Hence God is righteous when he afflicteth such a people. There is no injustice at all in it; see how •he promise runs, Psal. 103. 17, 18. And no wonder if a fool often feels a rod upon his back; if men will return to their foolishness as soon as they come from under correction, it is their own fault, ••d they may blame themselves for it, that they •re brought to it again presently. God herein vindicates his Holiness, and makes it appear how ill he can endure sin. Let it not then be thought ⟨p. 490⟩strange, if they who are so ready to turn aside• are laid under straitness again.
5. And he is also kind in it to his Children. No• only is he just, but merciful too, a father is a• kind. in giving his Child seasonable correction, a• in giving him his daily food: It belongs to hi• Covenant, Heb. 12. 6. And his faithfulness is t• be celebrated in it, Psal. 119. 75. It is the way i• which he shows them their folly, and teache•• them wisdom: and Godly men have abundant reason to say that it was in love to their So••; that he would not suffer them to ruin themselves 1. Cor. 11. 32.
5. And he is also kind in it to his Children. No• only is he just, but merciful too, a father is a• kind. in giving his Child seasonable correction, a• in giving him his daily food: It belongs to hi• Covenant, Heb. 12. 6. And his faithfulness is t• be celebrated in it, Psal. 119. 75. It is the way i• which he shews them their folly, and teache them wisdom: and Godly men have abundnt reason to say that it was in love to their So; that he would not suffer them to ruine themselves
2. Hence then to what a degree of brutishness•• they grown, who will not be reclaimed by severity? The horse & the mule, though b•uits, may be bo••• and brought to, with pains used upon them; •• to be governed with a bit and a bridle; nee• then must they be under a character of greater brutishness, whom neither mercies will melt, •• judgments break, but they go on in their evi• ways after all; and are there not many, that are grown Judgment proof, and beyond the effica•• of continued smitings? as they, Isa. 1. 5. Hos• 4• 17. Jer. 2. 30. And herein carry in them the very character of fools? according to, Prov. 27. 22
2. Hence then to what a degree of brutishness•• they grown, who will not be reclaimed by sevirity? The horse & the mule, though b•uits, may be bo••• and brought to, with pains used upon them; •• to be governed with a bit and a bridle; nee• then must they be under a character of greater brutishness, whom neither mercies will melt, •• judgments break, but they go on in their evi• ways after all; and are there not many, that are grown Judgment proof, and beyond the effica•• of continued smitings? as they, Isa. 1. 5
USE II. Let this then put us upon trying •• selves. God hath been visiting this people wit• repeated Judgments; and many in particular hav• been afflicted again and again: Let us then exam mine our selves by the truth in hand; and her• observe.
USE II. Let this then put us upon trying •• selves. God hath been visiting this people wit• repeated Judgments; and many in particular hav• been afflicted again and again: Let us then exa• mine our selves by the truth in hand; and her• observe.
1. The best of Gods Children may be under affliction, when they walk most in their integrity. What an account doth that Holy man. Heman give of himself? Psal. 88. It is not a certain argument of a mans being apostatized, merely because he is ••cted: God […] Sovereign, and they must counsels him to be so, Joh 42. 2. He hath many ways wherein he will be glorified in his people, in the ••yal of their graces; and if when they walk in their integrity, they are brought into many sorrows, •or the exercise of their faith, patience, &c. and he affords them his Spirit to help them in it, he thereby honours them, and they have cause to re••• in tribulation.
1. The best of Gods Children may be under affliction, when they walk most in their integrity. What an account doth that Holy man. Heman give of himself? Psal. 88. It is not a certain argument of a mans being apostatized, meerly because he is ••cted: God 〈…〉 Soveraign, and they must consels him to be so, Joh 42. 2. He hath many ways wherein he will be glorified in his people, in the ••yal of their graces; and if when they walk in their integrity, they are brought into many sorrows, •or the exercise of their faith, patience, &c. and he affords them his Spirit to help them in it, he thereby honours them, and they have cause to re••• in tribulation.
2. But such times do call Gods people to search and •ry themselves. We should acquaint our selves with the reason why God afflicts us, how else ••all we obtain the end and benefit of it? Now usually this is the occasion, viz. We grow remiss, and wanton, and negligent of our selves, and God in displeasure brings us into trouble: and it • he this, it calls us to Repentance; and if we would be able rightly to judge of this, we must observe our frame, and carriage; and that;
1. Under the afflictions that we suffer. It may be God afflicts us, and we are proud, and discontent, fret and pine; and do not so much as make search for the provocations given him; and yet •e in pity gives us some respite; but then he soon brings another cloud over us; here is enough to tell us how it is. Our folly remains, our dross abides, and calls for another furnace.
1. Under the afflictions that we suffer. It may be God afflicts us, and we are proud, and discon•ent, fret and pine; and do not so much as make search for the provocations given him; and yet •e in pitty gives us some respite; but then he soon brings another cloud over us; here is enough to tell us how it is. Our folly remains, our dross abides, and calls for another furnace.
2. After the affliction, or under deliverances. It may be we confessed our sins, promised amendment• and began to attempt it; prayed for pity, and God hath tried us; but now another trouble is on us: Well did we not do as Pharaoh, when •• saw there was respite? Exod. 8. 15. Let this then instruct us, and humble us, and make us to Justify God.
2. After the affliction, or under deliverances. It may be we confessed our sins, promised amendment• and began to attempt it; prayed for pity, and God hath tried us; but now another troubl• is on us: Well did we not do as Pharaoh, when •• saw there was respite? Exod. 8. 15. Let this then instruct us, and humble us, and make us to Justifie God.
USE III. Let it be to exhort us that we do no•• put God upon this course. Force him not to proceed against us in severity. Consider,
1. There is a way which is more suited to ma• I mean, which mans frame points him to. Ma• is made a reasonable Creature, and ought to hearken to reason; why should he forsake that, an• carry himself like an Horse? God pleads, Isa. •• 8. And God shows us the way in his Word an• Ordinances.
1. There is a way which is more suited to ma• I mean, which mans frame points him to. Ma• is made a reasonable Creature, and ought to hearken to reason; why should he forsake that, an• carry himself like an Horse? God pleads, Isa. •• 8. And God shews us the way in his Word an• Ordinances.
2. This is the way to escape rods. God calls th• severe course, his strange work, Isa. 28. 21. N•• merely because he is a God of mercy, and de• lighteth not to grieve us; but because it is •• strange thing that we should put him upon it: so that if we would comply with his counsels, we might prevent blows.
2. This is the way to escape rods. God calls th• severe course, his strange work, Isa. 28. 21. N•• me•rly because he is a God of mercy, and de• lighteth not to grieve us; but because it is •• strange thing that we should put him upon it: so that if we would comply with his counsels, we might prevent blows.
3. It is the way also to be more clear in the knowledge of our good estate. The free Obedience o• Gods people, saith that they are his indeed, Psal 110. 3. Whereas our being obedient no longe• than we are driven to it, must needs give us aw• full grounds to call our selves in question. An• for help,
3. It is the way also to be more clear in the knowledge of our good estate. The free Obedience o• Gods people, saith that they are his indeed, Psal 110. 3. Whereas our being obedient no longe• than we are driven to it, must needs give us aw• ful grounds to call our selves in question. An• for help,
1. Labour to get the love of God established in our ••arts. The Apostle could say, The love of Christ •instrains us, 2 Cor. 5. 14. And were this active, • it would do more on us than all the beatings that we feel: this would make us never well but when we are engaging in his work.
2. Study the amiableness of his Service. It is always some prejudice entertained at the ways of God, that makes us inconstant in our Obedience, and this is the suggestion of the flesh: would we be able experimentally to say with him, Psal. 19. 7, 8, 9, 10. It would knit our hearts to it. Did we believe that Wisdoms ways are ways of pleasancy, and all her paths peace, Prov. 3. 16. It would hind us to them of choice, and we should never be, well, but when exercised in them.
2. Study the amiableness of his Service. It is always some prejudice entertained at the wayes of God, that makes us inconstant in our Obedience, and this is the suggestion of the flesh: would we be able experimentally to say with him, Psal. 19. 7, 8, 9, 10. It would knit our hearts to it. Did we believe that Wisdoms ways are ways of pleasancy, and all her paths peace, Prov. 3. 16. It would hind us to them of choice, and we should never be, well, but when exercised in them.
