N00802:1462
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
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. Hence they have only regard to the body or outward man, in their judgment of things. If that be provided for, and have ease and content, they think all is well: they consider not that they have an immortal Soul, on the welfare whereof their happiness doth depend. If then they can have wealth, health, peace, plenty, they are as happy as can be: and the readiest way to obtain that, is the greatest wisdom in their esteem, and what obstructs it they note it folly for them to engage in it. This was his opinion, Luk. 12.19. And he is called a Fool for it, Verse 20. And this is to act just like a brute, who hath only a bodily life to preserve.
2. Hence they have only regard to the body or outward man, in their judgment of things. If that be provided for, and have ease and content, they think all is well: they consider not that they have an immortal Soul, on the welfare whereof their happiness doth depend. If then they can have wealth, health, peace, plenty, they are as happy as can be: and the readiest way to obtain that, is the greatest wisdom in their esteem, and what obstructs it they note it folly for them to engage in it. This was his opinion, Luk. 12.19. And he is called a Fool for it, Verse 20. And this is to act just like a bruit, who hath only a bodily life to preserve.
3. They look no farther than the present time. Never think of an after state: the life that now is, is all the life they are concerned about; they consider not of the Eternity to which they are going: all their projects are for now; that which doth them a present pleasure is the thing, and they will not be beat off from it, nor are they moved with the warnings of an after change, but mock at them; of such, 1 Cor. 15.32. These are beasts indeed; for, as they have but a present life, so they can look no farther.