N00583:87
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.
This is the very sum and substance of the threatening contained in our Text: and it is thrice besides repeated in our Context. There may be many changes in the process which God is using with such a people, and he may see meet now and then to give them some intermissions in that process: and herein he acts his own Sovereign pleasure: but for all this he will not so put an end to their troubles, nor is it to be expected. There are two things contained in this Doctrine, Viz.
This is the very sum and substance of the threatning contained in our Text: and it is thrice besides repeated in our Context. There may be many changes in the process which God is using with such a people, and he may see meet now and then to give them some intermissions in that process: and herein he acts his own Sovereign pleasure: but for all this he will not so put an end to their troubles, nor is it to be expected. There are two things contained in this Doctrine, Viz.
1. That there will be a proceeding in the way of Judgments. When God begins to take such a course with them, he will hold on in it, as long as they hold on in a course of impenitence and obstinacy: and though he hath kept them never so long under them; yet if there be no repentance, no Reformation wrought ⟨p. 67⟩on them by all, he will not so leave off, but will add still to Afflict them: he will proceed in his way, as long as they proceed in theirs. We therefore find, that when God had enumerated how many several courses he had taken with Israel to reclaim them, and all had proved unsuccessful, and that is the remark which is made at the foot of every one of them, yet have ye not returned unto me saith the Lord, Am. 4.6. &c. He gives them assuredly to understand that he will go on, and therefore bids them to look and prepare for it, Vers. 12. Therefore thus will I do unto O Israel; and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, Oh Israel. q. d. Look for it, make ready; it shall certainly be.
1. That there will be a proceeding in the way of Judgments. When God begins to take such a course with them, he will hold on in it, as long as they hold on in a course of impenitence and obstinacy: and though he hath kept them never so long under them; yet if there be no repentance, no Reformation wrought