N00802:1085
The truly blessed man
The truly blessed man: or, The way to be happy here, and for ever: being the substance of divers sermons preached on, Psalm XXXII. / By Samuel Willard, teacher of a church in Boston. N.E. ; [Five lines from Isaiah]
printed by B. Green for Michael Perry, 1700
Sermon › The safety of pardoned ones in worst times. DOCTRINE.
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.
6. And he can husband all these trials for his everlasting advantage. As God intends them to operate for his good, and will govern them to such an issue, so he can by the Grace of God, improve them to this purpose; by applying them to himself for the mortifying of his lusts, and exercising of his graces to his spiritual profit: and whiles he looks on them with such an eye, he is reconciled to them, so as to say, of every one, as Phil. 1.19. This shall turn to my account; and how happy a condition is this? well may it be said of these floods, that they do not come nigh him.
USE. I. This points us to our great Duty when we see clouds and storms rising. When we see presaging Symptoms of great calamities at the door: common reason tells us that these are warnings bidding us to prepare; but alas, they are vain courses which the ⟨p. 378⟩most take when it is so: but here we may be told what is good and safe for us: and here,
1. It is certainly now a time for prayer. All dangers seen in the face of Providence, call Gods people to betake themselves to him, and seek his help. It is vain to put trust in any other object; but God is a refuge, and a present help in times of trouble. We are directed hither by him, Psal. 50.15. David resolved thus to do, Psal. 57.1, 2. And whether el•• should they go? he only can and is ready to […] for them what they want.