N00802:1475
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. Be then convinced of the folly that cleaves to you. God himself hath declared every unregenerate man to be a born fool, and gives this for the reason why ⟨p. 478⟩they will not be persuaded, Psal. 58.3, 4. If ever you become truly wise, you must be convinced of this, 1 Cor. 3 17. The first lesson that sinful man is to learn in wisdoms School, is that he himself is a fool; which, if any thing, will put him on enquiring after wisdom. Many might have arrived at true wisdom, but for a conceit they had that they were already wise. And if you will compare the sentiments of carnal reason▪ with the dictates of the word of God, you must either charge them with foolishness, or confess your wisdom to be so.
2. Be then convinced of the folly that cleaves to you. God himself hath declared every unregenerate man to be a born fool, and gives this for the reason why ⟨p. 478⟩they will not be perswaded, Psal. 58.3, 4. If ever you become truly wise, you must be convinced of this, 1 Cor. 3 17. The first lesson that sinful man is to learn in wisdoms School, is that he himself is a fool; which, if any thing, will put him on enquiring after wisdom. Many might have arrived at true wisdom, but for a conceit they had that they were already wise. And if you will compare the sentiments of carnal reason▪ with the dictates of the word of God, you must either charge them with foolishness, or confess your wisdom to be so.