N00129:404
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.
2. Is not done in a right manner, viz. Sincerity of heart. God requires the heart in every service, for that commands all the faculties, and what way that goes, thither indeed all aim; hence the complaint is, Their heart •as not upright toward God.
3. Neither doth it aim at the right end, viz. the glory of God: this is the end of all true service, to bring glory to our Maker, and if this be not our aim and end, God is not indeed served in it. Now every hypocritical service wants all these ingredients, and therefore is not a serving of God, hence no wonder if he do not accept it.
Use. This may be for Trial, to see whether our services and enquiries have not been hypocritical, whether or no we have not drawn near to God with our lips, whiles our hearts have been far from him: Surely there is great reason why we should make such an enquiry an this is, if we consider what effects have followed upon our fastings.
Use. This may be for Tryal, to see whether our services and enquiries have not been hypocritical, whether or no we have not drawn near to God with our lips, whiles our hearts have been far from him: Surely there is great reason why we should make such an enquiry an this is, if we consider what effects have followed upon our fastings.