N00583:83
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.
2. And he sometimes gives them a present deliverance, ⟨p. 62⟩and respite from the troubles which they have been exercised with. There are very frequently lucid intervals to be observed in the course of Gods providence towards a sinning people, whom he hath under the rod, and this notwithstanding they do not answer the end of these Afflictions, but do abide in their degeneracy. He doth not always grieve them, but, though they do not hearken to him; though they do not cease to provoke him, but are senseless, careless, and go on in their way, yet he extends a great deal of his pity to them, He remembers their frame, and he interposeth some great deliverance or other, and hereby tries them between with his mercy; to see if thus he may break their hearts with kindness, and let them experience how unwilling he is to do them hurt, if they do not force him to it. Hence he causeth the stormy clouds which hand over them, and showered trouble on them to break, and some beams of light and comfort to dart in between; and all to try if mercy after Judgment will do any thing with them; if his being before hand in his kindness to them, will melt their hard hearts into a compliance with his calls and counsels. And hereby at least he will leave them the more inexcusable if they yet persist in their obstinacy. Thus we find that in Ahab's reign, though the foregoing Famine had not wrought ⟨p. 63⟩the expected Reformation, and God brought a Sword after it; yet God gave Israel two signal Victories over the Syrians, who had sorely distressed them, 1 Kings 20. And then in Joram's reign, God succoured that people with a strange relief in a grievous Famine and frighted away their enemies, when they were just ready to swallow them up, 2 Kings 7. And again afterwards in the days of Jeroboam the second, of which we have that observable passage, 2 Kings 14 24, 25, 26. He did that which was evil, &c. he restored the coast of Israel, &c. for the Lord saw the Affliction of Israel, &c. And many a time hath God done after this manner with his people, when the entertainment they have given to his Judgments hath been a Provocation to him to do otherwise.