N00347:157
A brief discourse of justification. Wherein this doctrine is plainly laid down according to…
A brief discourse of justification. Wherein this doctrine is plainly laid down according to the Scriptures. : As it was delivered in several sermons on this subject. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Ten lines of quotations]
Boston: printed by S for Samuel Phillips, 1686
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.
For Sin, which all ⟨p. 85⟩the children of men are naturally guilty of, and separated between God and man, and all mankind was for Sin under a severe threatening: so that they lead no hold of God at all, but were quite knocked off from any such thing: and now how shall they believe that this God will pardon them, and be reconciled unto them without some encouragement. The alone and bare consideration of Gods power to do them this kindness, is not enough, because there is a dreadful curse stands between to dishearten them from taking hold of that; and until it be removed they may be certain that God will never be so propositions to them. It must therefore be only a word of promise that can offer a Sinner any encouragement at all. To believe that God will accept of and pardon us in Christ, before such time as he hath declared himself willing to do it, is not faith but frenzy: because before the word of promise did break out, there was nothing else but wrath, and a sentence of condemnation to be read or heard of for the Sinner; here therefore is the first peeps hole of hope.
For Sin, which all ⟨p. 85⟩the children of men are naturally guilty of, and separated between God and man, and all mankind was for Sin under a severe threatning: so that they lead no hold of God at all, but were quite knockt off from any such thing: and now how shall they believe that this God will pardon them, and be reconciled unto them without some encouragement. The alone and bare consideration of Gods power to do them this kindness, is not enough, because there is a dreadful curse stands between to dishearten them from taking hold of that; and until it be removed they may be certain that God will never be so propositions to them. It must therefore be only a word of promise that can offer a Sinner any encouragement at all. To believe that God will accept of and pardon us in Christ, before such time as he hath declared himself willing to do it, is not faith but frenzy: because before the word of promise did break out, there was nothing else but wrath, and a sentence of condemnation to be read or heard of for the Sinner; here therefore is the first peeps hole of hope.