N00747:197
Spiritual desertions discovered and remedied. Being the substance of divers sermons preached for the…
Spiritual desertions discovered and remedied. Being the substance of divers sermons preached for the help of dark souls, labouring under divine withdrawings. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Four lines from Isaiah]
printed by B. Green for Michael Perry and Benjamin Eliot, 1699
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.
1. Acknowledge this as a great favour, w•th singular thankfulness. Let God have the praise of it, do you find comfort in it? remember it is his gift, and he doth not bestow it upon all on whom he hath conferred saving grace; think how many drooping souls there are, who do truly fear God, and would give a world, if it were in their dispose, that they might enjoy the serenity that you do. And let this put you upon studying how you may show your gratitude to ⟨p. 101⟩God for it; let it put you often upon making that enquiry, which David did on a like account▪ Psal. 116.12. What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me?
1. Acknowledge this as a great favour, w•th singular thankfulness. Let God have the praise of it, do you find comfort in it? remember it is his gift, and he doth not bestow it upon all on whom he hath conferred saving grace; think how many drooping souls there are, who do truly fear God, and would give a world, if it were in their dispose, that they might enjoy the serenity that you do. And let this put you upon studying how you may shew your gratitude to ⟨p. 101⟩God for it; let it put you often upon making that enquiry, which David did on a like account▪ Psal. 116.12. What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits towards me?
2. Carry it very humbly; beware of being li•ted up in your minds with this privilege. There is a pride remaining in the best; and its most dangerous efforts are in respect of the best things, in the Children of God. As to poor carnal minds, which know no better, they are apt to be proud of their Wealth, Strength, Beauty, Bravery, &c. which possibly you can look upon with a great deal of contempt: but Gods Children are in hazard of being proud of their spiritual gifts, and graces, and comforts too. You will be temped to think that there was some peculiar worth in you, which God observed, which made him to be so familiar with you: but take heed; say as,