N00802:1306
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 2: Ular Application, the best way of teaching. DOCTRINE II.
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.
2. We must observe and acquaint our selves with the present state of Religion, that is among a people. There is no Truth of God, but may at any time be suitably and profitably applied; but there are the special concerns of a people which vary. God would have us to suit our Ministrations to the occasion: thus did the Prophets of old, and thus did Paul in his Epistles. All sins, but more especially the sins of the times are to be born witness against, &c.
3. We must also study men personally. All that we have to do with are not of the same temper, nor the same circumstances, and so not to be applied to after the same manner. Some are proud, and profane, and obstinate, these are to be more roughly ⟨p. 431⟩treated; others are tender, troubled, apt to be discouraged; another manner of application belongs to them, Jude 22, 23.
4. Hence there is a great deal of prudence necessary in this affair. It is is not enough to know what is right, and what is wrong, but much discretion is to be used in the manner of applying it, the want▪ whereof may make good designs to miscarry. We see how Nathan used this in his addressing himself to David, 2 Sam. 12. begin.