N00802:1501
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.
2. The best among them are too much carnal. Though not altogether flesh, yet they carry too much flesh about them; the Children of God have a rebellious party in them, Paul complains of it, Rom. 7.23, 24. And this corruption in them is unruly, and too hard for them, which occasioneth their growing into spiritual indispositions, which are attended with neglect of duty, and sometimes woeful prevarications.
2. The best among them are too much carnal. Though not altogether flesh, yet they carry too much flesh about them; the Children of God have a rebellious party in them, Paul complains of it, Rom. 7.23, 24. And this corruption in them is unruly, and too hard for them, which occasioneth their growing into spiritual indispositions, which are attended with neglect of duty, and sometimes woful prevarications.
3. Hence they cannot be long without affliction. A long continued state of prosperity would do them hurt; the corruption in them will take advantage to draw them into carnal security, and sinful departures from God. Let ungodly men have their hearts desire, and they will abuse it; and Gods Children cannot bear too much dandling in the lap of Providence: if Davids mountain stand strong, he grows careless, Psal. 30.5. Such a people therefore would gather abundance of filth to themselves, as the Sea doth in a calm.
4. Hence God is righteous when he afflicteth such a people. There is no injustice at all in it; see how the promise runs,