N00583:48
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.
which that they may, they would prevent the reflections of Conscience, which is most likely be done by keeping them in the dark; our Saviour tells us how it is, and why it is so in this regard, Joh. 3.19, 20. Mens ways are evil, and they are afraid to know that they are so, and to be reproved for them; they therefore resolve to resist all the means that might bring them to a knowledge of themselves and their evil doings.
which that they may, they would prevent the reflexions of Conscience, which is most likely be done by keeping them in the dark; our Saviour tells us how it is, and why it is so in this regard, Joh. 3.19, 20. Mens ways are evil, and they are afraid to know that they are so, and to be reproved for them; they therefore resolve to resist all the means that might bring them to a knowledge of themselves and their evil doings.
3. That men will not receive the help which otherwise they might have, to remove all the other impediments of their Reformation. It is true, none can turn themselves, till God put in his Grace and turn them, he must first draw us, before we can run after him: it was a right Prayer which Ephraim put up, Jer. 31. ⟨p. 32⟩18. Turn thou me, and I shall be turned. But God, in his Ordinances, offers to his People, together with reproofs, all the Assistance and Grace that is wanting to the doing of that which he requires of them: he useth all means and endeavours with them, tendering them his hand, but they reject him, they will have none of him, they had rather go without his help; they are not willing to be rid of their sins: they are therefore said to resist his Spirit; and hereupon, the reason rendered why God at length leaves them up to their sinful ways, and gives them over to their vile courses to sin without any restraints, is because they would not accept of these his gracious offers,