N00129:43
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.
Reas. 1. Because God give•hi• blessing with these privileges but conditionally, i. e. according to the creatures improvement of them; if they will make use of them aright they are a special benefit to them, otherwise not, 1 Chron: 28: 11: and therefore positively and absolutely to trust in these, and not to carry a respect to the condition which is annexed to them, it is to neglect and abuse Gods order of blessing, who together with privileges, promiseth good to the faithful improver of them, but threatens wrath, and denounceth his judgements against the abusers of it, and is therefore a great deceit.
Reas. 1. Because God give•hi• blessing with these priviled•es but conditionally, i. e. according to the creatures improvement of them; if they will make use of them aright they are a special benefit to them, otherwise not, 1 Chron: 28: 11: and therefore positively and absolutely to trust in these, and not to carry a respect to the condition which is annexed to them, it is to neglect and abuse Gods order of blessing, who together with priviledges, promiseth good to the faithful improver of them, but threatens wrath, and denounceth his judgements against the abusers of it, and is therefore a great deceit.
Reas. 2. Because the greater the blessing is, if not answerably improved, it brings the greater curse upon the Creature: Mat. 11. 2•. that is Capernaum• sin, abuse of Gospel privileges, and therefore a special and extraordinary doom is past upon them; the greater the mercy is, the more sadly is God provoked by the abusing of it, and therefore ⟨p. 7⟩who ever escape, it's like to fare ill with such as those. Ans. 3. 2.