N00802:1502
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. 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, Psal. 103.17, 18. And no wonder if a fool often feels a rod upon his back; if men will return to their foolishness as soon as they come from under ••rrection, it is their own fault, and they may blame themselves for it, that they are brought to it again presently. God herein vindicates his Holiness, and makes it appear how ••ll •e can endure sin. Let it not then be thought ⟨p. 490⟩strange, if they who are so ready to turn aside, are laid under straitness again.
5. And he is also kind in it to his Children. Not only i• he just, but merciful too, a father is as kind in giving his Child seasonable correction, as in giving him his daily food: It belongs to his Covenant,