N00129:415
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. I for Trial: Le us examine whether this be not the reason why God hath not yet made us to see, and be sensible of the grounds of his Contest with this poor Land. This is the great and general complaint, We have fasted and prayed, sought and enquired, but his hand is stretched out still, and he is yet pleased to hide the reason from us, and not to let us know why he […] with us. Oh, do not charge God […] of […] or hard dealing: God, though he be Sovereign, and not […] of any of his matters, yet he is a gracious God, and […] to the humble soul to make a discovery of his Counsels, would we know why God hides his mind from us; look upon our selves, did we ever yet enquire in good earnest? Gods hand hath been heavy on this account upon us.
Use. I for Tryall: Le us examine whether this be not the reason why God hath not yet made us to see, and be sensible of the grounds of his Contest with this poor Land. This is the great and general complaint, We have fasted and prayed, sought and enquired, but his hand is stretched out still, and he is yet pleased to hide the reason from us, and not to let us know why he 〈…〉 with us. Oh, do not charge God 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 or hard dealing: God, though he be Sovereign, and not 〈…〉 of any of his matters, yet he is a gracious God, and 〈…〉 to the humble soul to make a discovery of his Counsels, would we know why God hides his minde from us; look upon our selves, did we ever yet enquire in good earnest? Gods hand hath been heavy on this account upon us.
1. In some things God hath divided the Apprehensions of his Messengers, as is too manifest and apparent; and this is your […], which ought to be your sorrow, for if in any point the […] give an uncertain sound, yours is the suffering […] to be, […] yet this is a general out-cry, What do you expect from […] what do you think we should do, when our Ministers are not […] […] it is a humbling thought, but do not wash your lands, and […] you mouths, as if you were clean in this point, […] find the root and cause of the afflict on in your selves; […] you […] God […] good earnest for your Ministers, and […] as you ought to do, and […] of God o give […] out heart, there would be a […] among them.