N00303:496
The child's portion
The child's portion: or The unseen glory of the children of God, asserted, and proved: together with several other sermons occasionally preached, and now published. / By Samuel Willard teacher of a church in Boston, New-England. ; [Five lines from Psalms]
printed by Samuel Green, 1684
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
The Prophets earnest expostulation, Jer. 14.8, 9. The enemy hath sometimes an apprehended ⟨p. 209⟩advantage to ask them, where is their God, Psal. 42.3. There may be great outward Calamities upon those that are called by God's Name, as we may see by that doleful complaint made Psal. 77.7. &c. And the ends which God propounds in his so doing, are.
1. That he may humble and reform his own People: Hence the Churches enemies are called his Rod, Isa. 10.5. Corruptions and depravations do sometimes grow insensibly upon the Church and People of God, especially in times of peace and tranquillity; God by thus doing cleanseth them of their pollutions. Persecution and oppression, and a yoke of bondage, is a fire in which their dross and filth is melted out, and taken away, Isa. 27.9. By this therefore shall the iniquity of Jacob be purged away, &c.
2. That by the Saints perseverance under affliction he may be glorified. God is greatly honoured by the patience and constancy of his Children under the opposition and oppression of their adversaries. As he puts an honour upon them, when he counts them worthy to suffer for his name, so the Apostles reckoned it,