N00802:1351
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 3: Divine Teachings are to guide us in our way. DOCTRINE III.
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. Those that take a great deal of pains to obtain Salvation, but in a wrong way. Some, who have convictions on their consciences, of their misery by sin, are put upon endeavours to get that misery removed, and obtain Gods favour, but never felt their utter impotency to satisfy for sin, or please God by their own righteousness, engage in legal Repentances, reformations, and operose duties, and take great pains in them, and so think ⟨p. 442⟩all is well, Rom. 10.3. What multitudes are buil• on this bottom? but be assured, this way hath been inaccessible since mans Apostasy, none of fallen men ever get to heaven by it: Paul took another course, Phil. 3.8, 9.
3. Those that acknowledge the right way, but regard neither to get into, nor keep in it. Many have a good Creed, but a loose Conversation; confess Christ to be the only way, and that none can be saved but believers, and holy ones, but are not solicitous about this affair; they think their profession in words to be enough, though in works they deny; but let such consider, out of your own mouths you shall be judged and condemned. What saith Christ, Joh. 14.17.
USE II. This truth affords us a Rule of judgment for the Trial of our selves and others.