N00800:97
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.
1. On a public account; and here let us make our remarks on the present times by this Rule,; and see how it is with us in this regard, and that both in respect of Symptoms, and of Prognostics; and I think that we have a loud call to engage in this scrutiny at this day; and therefore to move us to be serious and thorough in this Examen, let us consider;
1. On a publick account; and here let us make our remarks on the present times by this Rule,; and see how it is with us in this regard, and that both in respect of Symptoms, and of Prognosticks; and I think that we have a loud call to engage in this scrutiny at this day; and therefore to move us to be serious and thorough in this Examen, let us consider;
1. Christ hath made it our duty to know and discern the times. The times are not always alike; it is a world of Change that we live in; and as there are Changes of Times which pass over the Children of men, so there are the Symptoms of them, by which a rational and probable conjecture may be made about them ⟨p. 79⟩before hand, and we may, by observati•• foresee what is like to come, and it is the prudence of all such as live in this world, to have an insight into these signs. It is true, the Symptoms of the Times are of two sorts, viz. Natural, which are to be read in the order and posture of second causes, for, though there be a contingency belonging to these things, yet there is a natural eonnexion between such causes, and such effects, which in the ordinary course of Providence will be produced, unless they be some way over-ruled and prevented. When the Kingdoms are moved one against another, when animosities increase between them, when there are tumults and disquietments, these are the usual leaders to miserable devastations, &c and these things are not to be despised, because God makes use of second causes in accomplishing his purposes; but this is not the main thing. There are therefore Moral Symptom•, and these are peculiarly to be minded; in calculating whereof we are to proceed according to the tenor of Gods dispensing himself to a people, as such who are in Covenant