N00263:360
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. Be sure rightly to understand and clearly to know what it is that you engage in. That Christian is most like to stand firm to his Covenants, that enters upon them with the most mature deliberation: The want of this may bring a Man into a great snare, and lay him open to grievous temptations, Prov. 20.26. It is a snare to a Man to devour that which is holy; and after vows to make inquiry. Without knowledge there can be no practice; without consideration there can ⟨p. 147⟩be no good resolution. A Man's heart cannot be in that promise which he hath not weighed in his understanding. He that Covenants to forsake that Sin, which he hath a full purpose in his heart to keep and hug as his Darling, how is he like to stand to it? Remember then, that you engage to be for God, and for no other: You give up your selves to be led by his Spirit, directed by his Word, to be at his dispose and not your own; to make his Will your Rule, and his Glory your end You promise that you will not run in the Current and Stream of the Times in the pursuit of vanity, nor seek your own things, but the things of Christ. In a Word, you promise sincere and universal Obedience: Do you know or consider this? Have you thought, and do you approve of it in your hearts? If not, your hearts are false.
4. Take up a firm resolution to stand to and perform your promises It is not Words, but Performances that God hath a respect to. God will not be mocked with flattering promises. Purposes do nextly come from the heart, and are elicit Acts of the Will, and if these be wavering or unfixed, the heart is not right. A Covenant with God, is a Bond firmly obliging the Soul, and our engagements to him will never be performed without the greatest resolution. You shall meet with great and many Temptations which will assault and batter you. Evermore, when a People have been engaging to God in a solemn manner, they must expect some shaking Trial: And if then you would be strong and acquit your selves like Men, your business now is to be sixth. When Temptations come and assail you, you must say with David, The vows of God are upon me: And as