N00129:39
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.
Use 1 This may call us to the Examination, whether ever we truly repented or no of those sins which we have so often confessed to God, viz: where is our reformation? Search throughly one and another of us, remember what we have confessed, and with what shows of sense and sorrow, as if those sins had indeed been a burden to us, and we desired to ⟨p. 6⟩be rid of them, but have they been amended, have we truly relinquished them? if not, assure we our selves God looks at himself as mocked at all this while, and therefore if we be defective in this essential and substantial part of our repentance, never enquire or ask of God wherefore his hand is stretched out still against us, after so many Prayers and supplications have been poured out before him on solemn days:
Use 1 This may call us to the Examination, whether ever we truly repented or no of those sins which we have so often confessed to God, viz: where is our reformation? Search throughly one and another of us, remember what we have confessed, and with what shews of sense and sorow, as if those sins had indeed been a burthen to us, and we desired to ⟨p. 6⟩be rid of them, but have they been amended, have we truly relinquisht them? if not, assure we our selves God looks at himself as mocked at all this while, and therefore if we be defective in this essential and substantial part of our repentance, never enquire or ask of God wherefore his hand is stretched out still against us, after so many Prayers and supplications have been poured out before him on solemn dayes:
The Reason is obvious and plain, and he that runs may read it:
Use […] Hence therefore let this truth move upon us, to persuade us, and to reclaim us from words to works; from profession to practise, from confession to amendment: we have begun a good work in confessing, but it it go no further the work is spoiled; add we therefore now to it, reformation, let us turn away from those sins we have drawn up so many protests against, and let us show a practical hatred of what we have verbally renounced.