N00129:456
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.
First, It doth not need presently terminate upon the Magistracy and Ministry, though wherein they may be wanting in their places, the Lord give them to see & reform it, but it is not my work to scandalize those who cannot hear me speak: yet I say the sin is not needfully theirs. But
1. It may be universal, a spreading and over-running distemper. It is true indeed, God sometimes speaks to these, For your sakes they shall go into captivity; but if we be wise and compare Scripture, we shall elsewhere hear God saying, My people would have it so; there is a concurrence, a delight in it.
1. It may be universal, a spreading and over-running distemper. It is true indeed, God sometimes speaks to these, For your sakes they shall go into captivity; but if we be wise and compare Scripture, we shall elswhere hear God saying, My people would have it so; there is a concurrence, a delight in it.
2. […] form, but we will not be reformed: our […] Government both in Church and Commonwealth, is partly […] whose corruption and degeneracy being Anarchy, the guilt of the errors of Administration fall upon the people, especial it persons in Office and Place do their endeavour to rectify and attend them, but are overpowered; nay, though they attain an outward Reformation, yet there may remain the guilt of that sin unrepented of upon a Land, which God will not forget, but (though he may delay for a while) will find out a time to call to reckoning. Josiah was the greatest Reformer in Judah that ever was, yet though there were peace in his time. Read 2 Kings 22. 25: & 23. 25, 26.
2. 〈…〉 form, but we will not be reformed: our 〈…〉 Government both in Church and Commonwealth, is partly whose corruption and degeneracy being Anarchy, the guilt of the errours of Administration fall upon the people, especial it persons in Office and Place do their endeavour to rectifie and atend them, but are overpowered; nay, though they attain an outward Reformation, yet there may remain the guilt of that sin unrepented of upon a Land, which God will not forget, but (though he may delay for a while) will finde out a time to call to reckoning. Josiah was the greatest Reformer in Judah that ever was, yet though there were peace in his time. Reade 2 Kings 22. 25: & 23. 25, 26.