N00129:54
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 To condemn that spirit of hypocrisy which is ready to seize upon our hearts, will you give entertainment to secret sins, and forsake God in your hearts, live in a way and course of disobedience, and yet here come before God in solemn and serious duties, as though you were good Christians; God looks upon you as no better then a company of Robbers, you do at the present rob him of his glory; but, assure your selves, he will not be a looser by you, the time hastens when he will come and recover his honour out of your hands: and you rob your selves of all the good you might get by such opportunities as these; oh! if such duties were done in truth and sincerity, they would b•ing in a plenteous harvest; fasting days would be our best feasting days, God would both accept of us, and also crown us with admirable blessings; but it we will come with an Idol in our hearts, cry out against such sins as we bear an entire love unto, confess those evils we never intend to leave off in our course, assure we our selves we shall be found the greatest self Cheaters in the end.
Use To condemn that spirit of hypocrisie which is ready to seize upon our hearts, will you give entertainment to secret sins, and forsake God in your hearts, live in a way and course of disobedience, and yet here come before God in solemn and serious duties, as though you were good Christians; God looks upon you as no better then a company of Robbers, you do at the present rob him of his glory; but, assure your selves, he will not be a looser by you, the time hastens when he will come and recover his honour out of your hands: and you rob your selves of all the good you might get by such opportunities as these; oh! if such duties were done in truth and sincerity, they would b•ing in a plenteous harvest; fasting days would be our best feasting days, God would both accept of us, and also crown us with admirable blessings; but it we will come with an Idol in our hearts, cry out against such sins as we bear an entire love unto, confess those evils we never intend to leave off in our course, assure we our selves we shall be found the greatest self Cheaters in the end.
Doct. 7. God takes notice of, and will find a time to punish the wickedness of a sinning people; for both these are understood in the words. ver. 11. I behold it, and will requite it: so