N00800:58
The peril of the times displayed. Or The danger of mens taking up with…
The peril of the times displayed. Or The danger of mens taking up with a form of godliness, but denying the power of it. Being the substance of several sermons preached: / by Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. N.E. ; [One line from Augustine in Latin]
Boston: printed by B. Green, 1700
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.
5. When they abuse their Christian liberty to defend and encourage the abuse of the things of this life. I• •s a precious truth, that Christ hath purchased a right for his people to these things, which no Unregenerate man can claim; they are all theirs, for their use, and to Serve God withal: but as there is an use, so there is an abuse of these things; and that not only when the heart is set upon them, and they reckon them to be their happiness, but also when they allow to themselves an ⟨p. 33⟩inordinate use of them. When they transcend the bounds of that moderation which Christ hath limited the use of them unto, and thereby transgress the Rules of Sobriety. When meats, drinks, apparel, recreations are made use of to excess, and to the just scandal of serious Christians. When men insist upon lawfulness, and never consider what is expedient. Hence there are cautions given in the Gospel about these things, 1 Cor. 7.29, 30, 31. Rom. 13 13. 1 Pet. 3 3. all of which are to put a restraint upon mens taking their liberty too far: Such licentiousness is a denying of Godliness in the power of it.
5. When they abuse their Christian liberty to defend and encourage the abuse of the things of this life. I• •s a precious truth, that Christ hath purchased a right for his people to these things, which no Unregenerate man can claim; they are all theirs, for their use, and to Serve God withal: but as there is an use, so there is an abuse of these things; and that not only when the heart is set upon them, and they reckon them to be their happiness, but also when they allow to themselves an ⟨p. 33⟩inordinate use of them. When they transcend the bounds of that moderation which Christ hath limited the use of them unto, and thereby transgress the Rules of Sobriety. When meats, drinks, apparrel, recreations are made use of to excess, and to the just scandal of serious Christians. When men insist upon lawfulness, and never consider what is expedient. Hence there are cautions given in the Gospel about these things,