N00129:196
Useful instructions for a professing people in times of great security and degeneracy
Useful instructions for a professing people in times of great security and degeneracy: delivered in several sermons on solemn occasions: / by Mr. Samuel Willard Pastor of the Church of Christ at Groton. ; [Eight lines of Scripture texts]
printed by Samuel Green, 1673
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.
First, Let us all in general learn something by it, let it afford us some practical conclusions, which may be for our use and benefit to instruct and teach us in ways of Righteousness; namely,
First, Let us all in general learn something by it, let it afford us some practical conclusions, which may be for our use and benefit to instruct and teach us in wayes of Righteousness; namely,
1. Learn by it that Satan is busy in places of Gospel light, to seduce and draw away Souls from attending the means of grace. The Light of the Gospel doth not clear and free places from Satan or his bold Temptations, these infernal Spirits of darkness will come thither, and there endeavour to raise mists and fogs to seduce souls; and therefore let us learn not to live securely under the enjoyment of the Gospel of grace, but to spend our time of sojourning here in holy fear.
1. Learn by it that Satan is busie in places of Gospel light, to seduce and draw away Souls from attending the means of grace. The Light of the Gospel doth not clear and free places from Satan or his bold Temptations, these infernal Spirits of darkness will come thither, and there endeavour to raise mists and fogs to seduce souls; and therefore let us learn not to live securely under the enjoyment of the Gospel of grace, but to spend our time of sojourning here in holy fear.
2. That there is no place free, no not the House of God from Satan's Temptations: when thou art in Gods House, and thy bodily presence to attend the Ordinances, the dispensing of the Gospel, Satan will come thither, as he often did to this poor creature, he will do all he can to steal away thy mind and meditation, he will begin a par• with thee that shall last as long as the Sermon, and thou shalt go away without receiving one word of instruction. Oh how can e please thy fancy, and delude thy soul! and therefore let it awaken thee to be careful to keep thy foot when thou comest to the house of God, if thou wouldest not offer the sacrifice of fools,