N00583:78
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 us then see and admire at the wonderful Patience of God expressed to us herein. Surely, though we have cause deeply to be abased to think that it should be so with us as it is; yet we have deserved other, and a worse ⟨p. 58⟩manner of dealing from him: and though there be severity to be taken notice of in this, yet there is a great deal of lenity intermixed with it. If he had cut us off as soon as we begun to revolt from him, and given us no advantage at all to have made our peace with him, it had been just, and we could never have laid any injurious dealing to his charge: that therefore he makes so many steps in it, and that he proceeds, so slowly in them all, is to be cordially and thankfully acknowledged by us; and we have reason to say, It is of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed, Lam.3. 22. As then there is a great awakening in it to put us upon diligent seeking unto him, so there is abundant encouragement for us so to do; we may rationally argue from hence, that he who Afflicts us so unwillingly, would very willingly have his hands held by us, and, as it were wonders that we are so foolish that we take no more care to do it; and therefore,
USE. II. Let us then see and admire at the wonderful Patience of God exprest to us herein. Surely, though we have cause deeply to be abased to think that it should be so with us as it is; yet we have deserved other, and a worse ⟨p. 58⟩manner of dealing from him: and though there be severity to be taken notice of in this, yet there is a great deal of lenity intermixed with it. If he had cut us off as soon as we begun to revolt from him, and given us no advantage at all to have made our peace with him, it had been just, and we could never have laid any injurious dealing to his charge: that therefore he makes so many steps in it, and that he proceeds, so slowly in them all, is to be cordially and thankfully acknowledged by us; and we have reason to say, It is of the Lords mercy that we are not consumed, Lam.3. 22. As then there is a great awakning in it to put us upon diligent seeking unto him, so there is abundant encouragement for us so to do; we may rationally argue from hence, that he who Afflicts us so unwillingly, would very willingly have his hands held by us, and, as it were wonders that we are so foolish that we take no more care to do it; and therefore,