N00583:61
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.
USE. II. Let it then be an awakening word of warning unto us. And we are not a little concerned in it. We have out of doubt fallen by our iniquity: we have gotten too far away from God; we have beyond dispute turned ⟨p. 42⟩aside to things that cannot profit. All sin is against God; and to be sure every departure from any of these ways of his which he hath enjoined us in the observance of, is so: and there is a great deal of this to be found in the midst of us: and let me assure you, it is not a thing to be slighted or disregarded: as light a matter as we may make of it, and think what hurt is there in it, or what perils are we exposed to by it? Yet God reckons it a setting our selves against him. Well, but have we thus done through our folly? yet have a care of continuing in this unhappy posture: take heed of walking on in this contrariety, if nothing be done to remove it, God will charge it home upon us; and what shall we expect at his hands if he so doth? surely it will be impar congressus, the damage will fall upon us and not upon him; we must needs be the sufferers in the end, and not he: he will be too hard for us, there is all reason for us to lot upon this before we begin: it is a question which he would have a sinful People study an answer to, Ezek. 22. 14. Can thine heart endure? can thine hand be strong, in the day that I shall deal with thee? Our Impotency will never make a match for his Omnipotency. What a call then is this to our speedy and undelayed returning to him? Are we set in opposition to the great God? let us quit this station, and seek to be ⟨p. 43⟩reconciled. It is the advice which is given in this regard Isa. 7. 5. Let him take hold of my strength that he may make peace with me: and our only safety will be in following of it. Be we then advised to observe this counsel, and we shall find it for our good.
USE. II. Let it then be an awakning word of warning unto us. And we are not a little concerned in it. We have out of doubt fallen by our iniquity: we have gotten too far away from God; we have beyond dispute turned ⟨p. 42⟩