N00583:66
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.
3. These are all of them the effects and discoveries of Gods anger: and that is certainly against them. Anger is one of the separating affections, and it makes a distance between him that is angry, and those at whom he is so. It is true, if there be love in the bottom of these Afflictions, (and many times there is so, for he hath said, Rev. 3. 19. As many as I love, I rebuke & chasten; and there is a consistency between love and anger; a father may be angry with his offending son, and beat him in anger, but love governs that wrath) then all this is for them in the secret counsel of God. But the anger is certain, the course of providence bears witness to that; whereas there is not a present discovery of the love which is at work in the management of it: and besides, this love is usually reserved but for a Remnant, for whom God hath thoughts of peace, and to put a good end to their Afflictions; whereas others are exposed to his force indignation. But when God brings these evils upon men, he is said to make away for his ⟨p. 47⟩anger, Psal. 78. 50. And how do we find in Scripture, the History of such dispensations introduced with that preface, Viz. That the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and therefore he did so and so: and this tells us that God herein walks contrary to them.
4. And it is directly contrary to mens desire & hopes. As sin is opposite to Gods Holiness, and it grieves him, so is sorrow to mens Inclinations, and it vexeth them. Hence such expressions are used to set it forth by, 2 Chron. 15. 5, 6. Great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the Countries; for God did vex them with all adversity. There is in all men naturally a desire and craving after felicity; they would, if possible, enjoy a well being, according to their resentments of it; and although the fall hath made them ignorant of what is their best good, yet they apprehend a goodness in Peace, Health, Prosperity, Credit, Liberty, &c. these are agreeable to them, and therefore they are naturally in love with them; and the hope of enjoying them, is that which nourisheth in them, these endeavours which they lay out for the compassing and securing of them to themselves. That therefore which is contrary to this, that undermines their peace and health, and destroys their prosperity and liberty, &c. is that which they hate, and it perplexeth them: and hence, when God by his providence thus deals with