N00129:231
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 move in you earning bowels of compassion towards those ⟨p. 41⟩that are yet in Satan's Kingdom, and under his spiritual Jurisdiction: you may here see a little, though but a little, yet so much appears here visible and demonstrative, as may give a glimpse of discovery how sad and doleful the condition of poor unregenerate sinners is, who are spiritually possest by Satan: Let it then rouse up in you bowels of pity, when you look in the faces of any such, •et it make you to mourn over them, and pray for them, and counsel and advise them as God gives you opportunity, that if it may be, you may be helpful to their escape out of the paws of the devouring Lion.
3. Let it move in you earning bowels of compassion towards those ⟨p. 41⟩that are yet in Satans Kingdome, and under his spiritual Jurisdiction: you may here see a little, though but a little, yet so much appears here visible and demonstrative, as may give a glimpse of discovery how sad and doleful the condition of poor unregenerate sinners is, who are spiritually possest by Satan: Let it then rouse up in you bowels of pity, when you look in the faces of any such, •et it make you to mourn over them, and pray for them, and counsel and advise them as God gives you opportunity, that if it may be, you may be helpful to their escape out of the paws of the devouring Lion.
4. Let it awaken you to watch your ways and actions, to be careful to your lives and courses, how you carry it before them who are yet in their vanity, lest Satan make you his Stales to allure poor souls by. If the Devil can belie the people of God to encourage others to hearken to him, be sure he will make his market of your failings, negligent walkings, and whatsoever is done amiss by you at one time or other, to draw others more fearlessly after him; and will it not be a sad thing that souls should follow Satan to their eternal ruin and perdition, and you the live-birds that have drawn them into this net? For the Lords sake, for the love you bear to poor souls, if there be any pity, any compassion, any desire to Gods glory, or others Salvation, look to your ways, and see they be exemplary.