N00802:1505
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. Hence then to what a degree of brutishness are they grown, who will not be reclaimed by severity? The horse & the mule, though brutes may be broken and brought to, with pains used upon them, so a• to be governed with a bit and a bridle; needs then must they be under a character of greater brutishness, whom neither mercies will melt, no• judgments break, but they go on in their evil ways after all; and are there not many, that are grown Judgment proof, and beyond the efficacy of continued smitings? as they, Isa 1.5. Hos. 4.17. Jer. 2.30. And herein carry in them the very character of fools? according to, Prov. 27.22.
2. Hence then to what a degree of brutishness are they grown, who will not be reclaimed by severity? The horse & the mule, though bruits may be broken and brought to, with pains used upon them, so a• to be governed with a bit and a bridle; needs then must they be under a character of greater brutishness, whom neither mercies will melt, no• judgments break, but they go on in their evil ways after all; and are there not many, that are grown Judgment proof, and beyond the efficacy of continued smitings? as they, Isa 1.5. Hos. 4.17. Jer. 2.30. And herein carry in them the very character of fools? according to, Prov. 27.22.
USE II. Let this then put us upon trying our selves. God hath been visiting this people with repeated Judgments; and many in particular have been afflicted again and again: Let us then examine our selves by the truth in hand; and here observe.