N00129:411
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. Learn hence that you cannot deceive God, man you may put off with fine words and fair pretences, but not so God: hath not God made it to appear that he will not be mocked by us? we have offered up to him hypocritical services, and accordingly we have been paid: we come with an Idol in our heart, and he hath answered us according to our Idol. Let us then look to our selves, and beware how we come before him, with what heart we come into his presence: know it, if we sow wind, we shall reap the east-wind; we may think to deceive and put him off with our mockeries, but he observes and takes notice even of those thoughts, and will make us to see and feel that he i• displeased with them: Bring then no more vain oblations, offer up no more heartless sacrifices to him, but come loathing our selves, taking the true shame of our sins, and with a real desire to be rid of them, and we shall be accepted.
Use. Learn hence that you cannot deceive God, man you may put off with fine words and fair p•etences, but not so God: hath not God made it to appear that he will not be mocked by us? we have offered up to him hypocritical services, and accordingly we have been paid: we come with an Idol in our heart, and he hath answered us according to our Idol. Let us then look to our selves, and bew•re how we come before him, with what heart we come into his prese•ce: know it, if we sow wind, we shall reap the east-wind; we may think to deceive and put him off with our mockeries, but he observes and takes notice even of those thoughts, and will make us to see and feel that he i• d•spleased with them: Bring then no more vain oblations, offer up no more heartless sacrifices to him, but come loathing our selves, taking the true shame of our sins, and with a real desire to be rid of them, and we shall be accepted.
Doct. 3 Those that would be instructed by God, in the grounds of his quarrel, and means of restitution, must enquire in good earnest. God loves no this hypocritis, and it we bring it, he will answer accordingly,