N00129:94
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.
4. Lenity in Rulers, brings ruin upon a people, whether in common wealth or in Churches: Rulers may be good men in themselves, so was Eli, but if they give way to sinful forbearance in the executing of Justice according to the will of God, they are not occasions only, but leading causes to the undoing of a people, because such a spirit animates wicked spirits, and makes them bold to do perversely upon presumption of a pardon, or to be past by with some […] proof; God chargeth Shiloh's destruction upon Eli, who was […] Israel, and when his Sons the Priests did wickedly, he connives so far, as only to rebuke them, who being gotten beyond remorse or sense of reproof abused their Fathers patience, to add to their Rebellion; therefore must Shiloh be laid wast.
4. Lenetie in Rulers, brings ruine upon a people, whether in common wealth or in Churches: Rulers may be good men in themselves, so was Eli, but if they give way to sinfull forbearance in the executing of Justice according to the will of God, they are not occasions onely, but leading causes to the undoing of a people, because such a spirit animates wicked spirits, and makes them bold to do perversely upon presumption of a pardon, or to be past by with some 〈…〉 proof; God chargeth Shiloh's destruction upon Eli, who was 〈…〉 Israel, and when his Sons the Priests did wickedly, he connives so far, as only to rebuke them, who being gotten beyond remorse or sense of reproof abused their Fathers patience, to add to their Rebellion; therefore must Shiloh be laid wast.
Hence therefore, let this teach us to pray unto God, to put a Spirit into our Rulers, Zealous against Sin, especially in these times of prevailing iniquity; and let us, in our place encourage them in so doing, by rejoicing in acts of Justice and severity, against such evils as grow and thrive among us: Pray that they may not respect persons, nor encourage some in sin, by sparing others; especially remembering, that as long as such a spirit is in Rulers, what ever sins there be in a people, the• […] still some to stand in the Gap.