N00802:1271
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 › Doctrine 1: Experienced Christians fittest to teach others. DOCTRINE I.
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.
4. It furnisheth him with skill of applying to particular cases. Many can discourse very distinctly, upon a subject in Divinity; but when they meet ⟨p. 419⟩with the doubts and objections of tempted Christians, they are mere bunglers, for want of experience; Peter is winnowed, to be fitted to strengthen others, Luk. 22.32. To be sure, in cases of Desertion, nothing more proper to apply than experience; besides that it helps to do every thing with compassion, Heb. 5.2▪
4. It furnisheth him with skill of applying to particular cases. Many can discourse very distinctly, upon a subject in Divinity; but when they meet ⟨p. 419⟩with the doubts and objections of tempted Christians, they are meer bunglers, for want of experience; Peter is winnowed, to be fitted to strengthen others, Luk. 22.32. To be sure, in cases of Desertion, nothing more proper to apply than experience; besides that it helps to do every thing with compassion, Heb. 5.2▪
5. It much helps our patience, and perseverance in teaching. Mere speculative knowledge puffs up, and makes men impatient, and presently they despair of good, if they see not the desired effect: if Sinners will not presently hear them, they conclude them past hope: if troubled ones be not persuaded presently to hear them, they think them desperate; all this is for want of experience: he that hath known his own heart, and the mighty resistance that it makes to the offers of grace, will learn by it, to bear, wait, and use endeavours, and not be weary,