N00263:182
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.
3. Where God hath done more a •••ple, there He expects more from them: Clear for this is that of our Saviour, Luk. 12.48. To whom much is given, of him shall be much required. Christ in the Gospel compares the Kingdom of Heaven (i. e. the visible Church) to a Vineyard which the Owner Let out to Husband-men, and in the season sent for his Revenue Gospel-privileges, as freely as Men think they are bestowed upon them, (and indeed, inasmuch as they are undeserved, they are free) yet they shall find, when God comes to reckon with them, that they shall be called to a severe account for them: God keeps a Book of accounts (what ever Men think of Him, or how careless soever they may judge Him to be) and there He chargeth down to Mens score, all the several particular disbursements which He hath laid out upon this and that Man, these and those Churches: You find the severals enumerated of what he had been out upon, or done for his Vineyard, Isai. 5. begin. And so he doth for every Vineyard, ⟨p. 65⟩and every Fig-tree. Every Sermon that is Preached to them, every Sacrament that is administered, every Labourer whom He either fixeth amongst them, or sends occasionally to do any thing in His Husbandry there, these are in His Treasures and a Memorial of them Registered with Him, not an Item forgotten. Poor heathen have not so much to account for, as a People who are in visible Covenant with God have. God connives at abundance of sin in places of darkness, which He will not where Gospel-light shines. Observable is that of the Apostle, Acts. 17.30. The Times of this Ignorance, God Winked at, but now commands all Men every where to Repent. And what a difference of times, merely upon the account of the Gospel doth our Saviour Christ make! Joh▪ 15.22. If I had not come, and spoken to them, they had had no Sin, but now they have no cloak for their Sins. Judah had the Temple and Ordinances with them, when the Ten Tribes, by their Rebellion from the house of David, and carnal policy of their own Kings, were obstructed in, and much hindered from enjoyment of these liberties. God takes notice of it, and sets a signal Caution upon it,