N00802:1486
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: To go no further in Gods Service than forced is an ill sign. 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.
3 That which renders this Service pleasing to God, is when it is done with cordial love to him, and his ways. Though God requireth an outward service, and the neglect of it discovers our disobedience to him; for, if our heart were right, it would prompt us to our duty; yet this alone will not satisfy him: as he knows the heart, so he requires it, Prov, 2•.26. Outward services that proceed not from this principle, are Hypocritical; hence that complaint, Psal 78.37. Ezek. 33.31. Now obedience is therefore called love, Gal. 5.6. 2 Tim. 1.13. Hence loving God, and keeping of his Commandment• have an inseparable connection, Exod. 20 6. And indeed, love is the closing Affection which carrieth u• to our object, and uniteth us with it, it saith that we conceive an infinite amiableness and desirableness in him and his service, and therefore we serve him with delight.
3 That which renders this Service pleasing to God, is when it is done with cordial love to him, and his wayes. Though God requireth an outward service, and the neglect of it discovers our disobedience to him; for, if our heart were right, it would prompt us to our duty; yet this alone will not satisfy him: as he knows the heart, so he requires it, Prov, 2•.26. Outward services that proceed not from this principle, are Hypocritical; hence that complaint, Psal 78.37. Ezek. 33.31. Now obedience is therefore called love, Gal. 5.6. 2 Tim. 1.13. Hence loving God, and keeping of his Commandment• have an inseparable connexion,