A66111:1545
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. 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.
3. Labour to taste the sweetness of Obedience, and the peace there is in it; Psal. 119. 165. Every sin leaves a sting behind it on the Conscience, but the fear of God gives inward peace, and a Child of God is never so comfortable of it, as when his heart bears witness to his integrity, 2 Cor. 1. 12. Get a freedom in our hearts to this: forced Service is always ungrateful, but that which is on free choice must needs be delectable.
IN these words the Psalmist backs his caution or direction with motives, and that is fetched from a double Topic, viz. The infelicity which waits on the disobedient, and the great felicity which waits on those that hearken to God: Where observe,
IN these words the Psalmist backs his caution or direction with motives, and that is fetcht from a double Topick, viz. The infelicity which waits on the disobedient, and the great felicity which waits on those that hearken to God: Where observe,
1. The Character he gives to each of them; the former he brands with the title of Wicked: The words signifies one that is unquiet in himself, and always disturbing of others, and is used for one that is under the Guilt and Dominion of Sin; the latter he calls those that trust in the Lord, therein pointing us to the root of Obedience; the word, implies, such a confidence as makes one hold, and to pursue ones work with greatest resolution.
2. The different state or condition of these answerable to their Character; viz.
1. The misery that waits on Wicked men; Many Sorrows: Sorrows; the word is applied to griefs both of body and mind, and signifies the intenseness of them; many; the word is applied both to quantity and quality, and signifies both magnitude and multitude, and may be read, many and great.
2. The felicity of the Believer; mercy; shall compass him about. Here observe,
1. What it is that makes him happy; Mercy: it is here put Metonymically, for the fruits or effects of mercy. The word signifieth a sacred affection •• •uty, pity, benignity, or good, will, without any ••• spect to merit.
1. What it is that makes him happy; Mercy: it is here put Metonimically, for the fruits or effects of mercy. The word signifieth a sacred affection •• •uty, pity, benignity, or good, will, without any ••• spect to merit.
2. The large extent of this mercy, it shall compass him round: sometimes it signifieth a successive compassing a thing: and so the mercy of God is always walking the rounds about a believer, to see ••at he wants, & confer it upon him: sometimes the compassing a thing at once: and then it saith, that mercy is a guard to the believer, and he go•• through the world in the midst of it. Hence […]
2. The large extent of this mercy, it shall composs him round: sometimes it signifieth a successive compassing a thing: and so the mercy of God is always walking the rounds about a believer, to see ••at he wants, & confer it upon him: sometimes the compassing a thing at once: and then it saith, that mercy is a guard to the believer, and he go•• through the world in the midst of it. Hence 〈…〉
Untractableness under the means, belongs to the Character of wicked men. Those whom before he compared to the horse and mule, here he calls the wicked. This Doctrine is not so to be understood, as if every act of contumacy, did declare a man to be really wicked; i. e. Unregenerate. There have been such unhappy instances in the particular carriage of those that have the root of the matter in them, through the prevalency of the […] ⟨p. 496⟩Isa•• in their members. That then we may rightly take up this truth, observe these Conclusions.
UNtractableness under the means, belongs to the Character of wicked men. Those whom before he compared to the horse and mule, here he calls the wicked. This Doctrine is not so to be understood, as if every act of contumacy, did declare a man to be really wicked; i. e. Unregenerate. There have been such unhappy instances in the particular carriage of those that have the root of the matter in them, through the prevalency of the 〈…〉 ⟨p. 496⟩Isa•• in their members. That then we may rightly take up this truth, observe these Conclusions.
