N00129:406
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. 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.
1. How little fruit of Reformation hath there been on our part: what one thing hath there been amended? what public sin hath been reclaimed? is there ever the less vanity, pride, profaneness, oppression, contention? or do not these and the like evils seem rather to increase and grow more after all? and is not this a note of hypocrisy, to confess, and seem to bewail, and yet not to amend, but grow worse?
1. How little fruit of Reformation hath there been on our part: what one thing hath there been amended? what publick sin hath been reclaimed? is there ever the less vanity, pride, profaneness, oppression, contention? or do not these and the like evils seem rather to inarease and grow more after all? and is not this a note of hypocrisie, to confess, and seem to bewail, and yet not to amend, but grow worse?
2. Wherein hath there been a removal of the Rod on Gods part: do not our calamities seem to increase, and the stroke to be more and more heavy? we lost many Instruments of the glory of God, and suffered many bodily Calamities, and Blastings of our labours, and we have fasted, but his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still; yea more varieties of sorrows are heaped upon us: we may therefore well examine our own hears, what is the reason of all this, unless we have not yet indeed turned to him who smote us, the Lord our God.