N00802:1374
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.
8. The Spirit of God sets in with these, and effectually teacheth all those that are appointed to Salvation. If it be asked why one that sits under the outward teachings remains untaught, whenas another hears, and understands, and receives instruction, and takes hold on the paths of peace; it is not because they labour more with these, or they are in themselves more tractable. The natural reluctancy in the faculties of men to the things of God, is alike in all; and was there no more done for teaching this man, than the other, he would equally die without instruction, it must then be ascribed to the Spirit of God. He indeed useth the means, because God hath appointed them for this purpose; but he comes in secretly with them, opens their blind eyes, and causeth them to see the excellent way of life, approve it, consent to it, and make choice of it: and he undertakes to keep them in this way, Isa. 30.21. Joh. 16.13. So that on whomsoever the outward means have this efficacy, it is an evidence that the blessed Spirit of God hath been there.
8. The Spirit of God sets in with these, and effectually teacheth all those that are appointed to Salvation. If it be asked why one that sits under the outward teachings remains untaught, whenas another hears, and understands, and receives instruction, and takes hold on the paths of peace; it is not because they labour more with these, or they are in themselves more tractable. The natural reluctancy in the faculties of men to the things of God, is alike in all; and was there no more done for teaching this man, than the other, he would equally dy without instruction, it must then be ascribed to the Spirit of God. He indeed useth the means, because God hath appointed them for this purpose; but he comes in secretly with them, opens their blind eyes, and causeth them to see the excellent way of life, approve it, consent to it, and make choise of it: and he undertakes to keep them in this way, Isa. 30.21. Joh. 16.13. So that on whomsoever the outward means have this efficacy, it is an evidence that the blessed Spirit of God hath been there.