N00263:349
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.
I. Consider whom you have now to do and transact withal. I know you have to do one with another, but this is not your main business, that is with God, and if it be God you are now engaging with, let it then be thought upon.
1 Whether He do not deserve your hearts: if not He, Who? Hath He not made them? Doth He not uphold and preserve them? Cannot He make them happy or miserable? All that He hath done for you, all that He hath revealed in the Promise which He is ready to perform in your behalf if you truly seek it of Him, challengeth your hearts to be devoted unto Him; yea, you do here engage your selves to be His, and can ⟨p. 142⟩you be so, and yet keep back your heart (which is the main and principal thing) from Him?
1 Whether He do not deserve your hearts: if not He, Who? Hath He not made them? Doth He not uphold and preserve them? Cannot He make them happy or miserable? All that He hath done for you, all that He hath revealed in the Promise which He is ready to perform in your behalfe if you truly seek it of Him, challengeth your hearts to be devoted unto Him; yea, you do here engage your selves to be His, and can ⟨p. 142⟩you be so, and yet keep back your heart (which is the main and principal thing) from Him?
2. Whether you can rationally hope that he will accept of your Covenanting except your hearts be in it. To believe it, is to make him a liar. Did he not of all the Sacrifices challenge the inwards (as the principal Part) for himself? And what doth that signify to us, but that the heart must be his in every service of ours? Did he accept of the plausible, but heartless service of the Jews,