N00263:352
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. Whether you can impose upon him and cheat him with an heartless Covenant. Can you kiss your hands, and mean while hide hypocrisy in your hearts, and God not know it? And can he know it, and not bear witness against it? Had you only Man to do withal, you might with many fair words, and deceitful shows invite him to credit and confide in your false and deceitful promises, for Man judgeth according to appearance, but he who searcheth the darkest corner of the Soul, and sees our inside, will not be so imposed upon.
3. Whether you can impose upon him and cheat him with an heartless Covenant. Can you kiss your hands, and mean while hide hypocrisy in your hearts, and God not know it? And can he know it, and not bear witness against it? Had you only Man to do withal, you might with many fair words, and deceitful shews invite him to credit and confide in your false and deceitful promises, for Man judgeth according to appearance, but he who searcheth the darkest corner of the Soul, and sees our inside, will not be so imposed upon.
4. Whether this be not the way to be accepted, notwithstanding all your weakness and infirmities. It is a sincere Souls happiness (as it is an hypocrites misery) that he hath God to deal withal in the Covenant. When you have done your utmost, and taken most pains to prepare your selves for this business, you will still unavoidably bring many and great infirmities with you, but God loves and will accept of truth in the inward part, and whatsoever frailties are with you, yet this is pleadable in the greatest extremities, Isa. 38.3. I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect Heart. David, had great Sins, yet God casts him not off, because his heart was perfect: Saul did ⟨p. 143⟩many specious things, but God rejects him, his heart was not true to God. Be but sincere, and your Covenanting shall not be in vain.