N00129:200
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.
4. That this world would be a sad place to live in, if it were not for Gods over-ruling Providence. Oh how busy is the Devil, that great Adversary of Souls! and •ow full is he of Cruelty! did not God restrain his rage, he would soon make poor Mortals incapable of living here below: By the Claw you may judge of the Lion. We find in Jobs case, he goes to the outside of his Commission: and here you have a lively spectacle of his venom and spite; Oh then let it awaken us to see by whom we are every day preserved and protected from the rage of Devils, God only: Alas! what were we in the hands of these infernal Powers, if Gods Omnipotency did not restrain them. Let this make God more glorious in our eyes.
4. That this world would be a sad place to live in, if it were not for Gods over-ruling Providence. Oh how busie is the Devil, that great Adversary of Souls! and •ow full is he of Cruelty! did not God restrain his rage, he would soon make poor Mortals incapable of living here below: By the Claw you may judge of the Lion. We finde in Jobs case, he goes to the outside of his Commission: and here you have a lively spectacle of his venome and spight; Oh then let it awaken us to see by whom we are every day preserved and protected from the rage of Devils, God onely: Alas! what were we in the hands of these infernal Powers, if Gods Omnipotency did not restrain them. Let this make God more glorious in our eyes.
5. That there is no safety but under the wings of the Lord Jesus Christ: he only is the strong man that can secure us from the possession of Satan. Satan rules and reigns in this world, and you see how ⟨p. 35⟩much power he holds over the children of disobedience. And therefore learn hence both to bless God for Christ Jesus, who came into the world to destroy the works of the Devil; had he not come to set up, his Kingdom in this world, the Devil would have reigned Lord and King in all Souls, he only is able to dispossess the strength, and uncastle the Powers of Hell: as also to fly under the wings of this Redeemer for safeguard, that we may be freed from these cruel Enemies.