N00263:144
Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shown the connection…Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shewn the connexion…
Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shown the connection which there is between the promise, on God's part; and duty, on our part, in the covenant of grace: as it was delivered in several sermons, preached in order to solemn renewing of covenant. / By Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New-England. ; [Seven lines from Deuteronomy]Covenant-keeping the way to blessedness, or, A brief discourse wherein is shewn the connexion which there is between the promise, on God's part; and duty, on our part, in the covenant of grace: as it was delivered in several sermons, preached in order to solemn renewing of covenant. / By Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston in New-England. ; [Seven lines from Deuteronomy]
printed by James Glen, 1682
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. The complete fulfilling of many spiritual Promises is reserved till another Life. There is a near relation between things spiritual, and things heavenly: Grace differs from Glory but in degree: Hence, as we are not to expect to have the Promises of Glory fulfilled here. so neither such as belong to Grace to be completed. God hath said and Promised that he will take away all Sin, that he will pluck out of us the heart of Stone, that he will give us complete Victory over Satan, and many the like Words he hath engaged in, concerning which a Believer is many times ready to wonder, to think that God in the Promise speaks so largely and liberally, and yet in his Providence seems to perform it so little and so meanly in him; & now Satan tempts, his heart relents, doubts begin to assault him, and he is ready to say, surely I have but deceived my self: and why? The reason is, he forgets that here we are to live by Faith, and not by Sight. The Promise is sure, and shall without fail be fulfilled; but when? Why? When he hath patiently waited, and comes to leave this, and go to another World, but in ⟨p. 50⟩the mean while, we are to expect and be content with nothing but earnests, and some small essays and tastes of these things, viz. Enough to keep him up to his Work, and to strengthen Faith in Hope to be waiting in ways of Obedience for the accomplishment of it.
4. The compleat fulfilling of many spiritual Promises is reserved till another Life. There is a near relation between things spiritual, and things heavenly: Grace differs from Glory but in degree: Hence, as we are not to expect to have the Promises of Glory fulfilled here. so neither such as belong to Grace to be compleated. God hath said and Promised that he will take away all Sin, that he will pluck out of us the heart of Stone, that he will give us compleat Victory over Satan, and many the like Words he hath engaged in, concerning which a Beleever is many times ready to wonder, to think that God in the Promise speaks so largly and liberally, and yet in his Providence seems to perform it so little and so meanly in him; & now Satan tempts, his heart relents, doubts begin to assault him, and he is ready to say, surely I have but deceived my self: and why? The reason is, he forgets that here we are to live by Faith, and not by Sight. The Promise is sure, and shall without fail be fulfilled; but when? Why? When he hath patiently waited, and comes to leave this, and go to another World, but in ⟨p. 50⟩