N00583:39
Reformation the great duty of an afflicted people. Setting forth the sin and danger…
Reformation the great duty of an afflicted people. Setting forth the sin and danger there is in neglecting of it, under the continued and repeated judgments of God. : Being the substance of what was preached on a solemn day of humiliation kept by the Third Gathered Church in Boston, on August. 23d. 1694. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of the said church. ; [Four lines from Zechariah]
printed by Bartholomew Green, 1694
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.
4. Afflictions, or Judgments, have not in themselves ⟨p. 23⟩the virtue of Reforming a backslidden People. They are indeed made use of by God for this purpose, and if he pleaseth to influence them they shall be serviceable to the furtherance of it, and suitable moral arguments may be drawn from them for conviction and awakening; but they cannot alone work any gracious effect: except Correction and Instruction go together, there is no good like to be done. Hence that, Psal. 94. 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy Law, otherwise, Bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a Pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him. Prov. 27. 22. Men might indeed know, if they would, what Afflictions come for, and that would be a step to Reformation, if there were a through Conviction upon the Conscience; but there is no kindly working upon the heart by this alone. Unsanctified Afflictions, being misimproved by the native corruption that is in man, will make him worse, and more obstinate, instead of mending him; 2 Chron. 28. 22. And in the time of his distress he did yet trespass more against the Lord.
4. Afflictions, or Judgments, have not in themselves ⟨p. 23⟩the vertue of Reforming a backslidden People. They are indeed made use of by God for this purpose, and if he pleaseth to influence them they shall be servicable to the furtherance of it, and suitable moral arguments may be drawn from them for conviction and awakning; but they cannot alone work any gracious effect: except Correction and Instruction go together, there is no good like to be done. Hence that, Psal. 94. 12. Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy Law, otherwise, Bray a fool in a morter among wheat with a Pestil, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.