N00129:208
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.
3. Let it therefore teach you to amend your ways, and reform your lives, and that speedily: it may be a great argument to quicken you up no longer to use delays, nor put off God coming to you in his Word, and persuading you by his Spirit to repent and return to him. Oh see in this lecture upon what slippery and dangerous ground you stand, and have stood all this while, and if God had been severe towards you, you had not had this opportunity of being called to Repentance; and then learn to shake off all delays, to put by all excuses, and bless God that you yet have an opportunity.
3. Let it therefore teach you to amend your wayes, and reform your lives, and that speedily: it may be a great argument to quicken you up no longer to use delayes, nor put off God coming to you in his Word, and perswading you by his Spirit to repent and return to him. Oh see in this lecture upon what slippery and dangerous ground you stand, and have stood all this while, and if God had been severe towards you, you had not had this opportunity of being called to Repentance; and then learn to shake off all delayes, to put by all excuses, and bless God that you yet have an opportunity.
Secondly, You that are Young ones, behold here one of your Tribe and Form, as I may say, one of your own years picked out of you by the wise Providence of God, to be made an object of Gods severity, and mans pity. Out of doubt […] especial Cry to you Young ones, to Remember your Creator […] of your youth: you have been often counselled and admonished in the House of God, yea earnestly and compassionately entreated to devote your young time to God, to give up the prime of your years to him; but you have slighted and disregarded such Counsels and Calls, and have taken up […] that you would have your childish and youthful vanities, let God by his […] say what he would to you: Well, now God hath […] in his Providence, and thunders out his mind to you in […] sad Object, and what do you now say to it? will you hear ⟨p. 37⟩Gods voice, or will you for […]? are you still resolved in your […] courses, or will you learn Righteousness? if you would but […] your ears, you might here observe God speaking something to you.