N00802:1755
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 5: Every true believer is compassed with mercy. DOCTRINE V.
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.
1. You see the difference between those, asserted by the Spirit of God; and it is not to be slighted. Let your own reason tell you whether is better, to be the Subjects of all sorrows and miseries, as to be compassed about with all the mercies that are enough to make you happy, now and for ever; and this is the very case: Surely then there is no room for any demur. Behold God sets life and death before you, and shall it be hard to determine the Choice? What should hinder you from avoiding that which will certainly procure your ruin, and pursuing that which will assure your happiness?
1. You see the difference between those, asserted by the Spirit of God; and it is not to be slighted. Let your own reason tell you whether is better, to be the Subjects of all sorrows and miseries, as to be compassed about with all the mercies that are enough to make you happy, now and for ever; and this is the very case: Surely then there is no room for any demur. Behold God sets life and death before you, and shall it be hard to determine the Choise? What should hinder you from avoiding that which will certainly procure your ruine, and pursuing that which will assure your happiness?
2. Hence it is a woeful cheat put upon you, when you are persuaded that you shall change for the worse. It is hells policy, and the cry of corrupt nature to prejudice men against the fair offers of the Gospel. They would fain insinuate, that you must lose all pleasure and delight, and expose your selves to all troubles and sorrows, if you desert Satan's Camp, and come over to Christ; but see how unreasonable this is. Shall God or the Devil be believed in this case? Will you be put off with appearances, and put away realities? They are none but Enemies to the Salvation of your Souls who thus impose upon you.
2. Hence it is a woful cheat put upon you, when you are perswaded that you shall change for the worse. It is hells policy, and the cry of corrupt nature to prejudice men against the fair offers of the Gospel. They would fain insinuate, that you must lose all pleasure and delight, and expose your selves to all troubles and sorrows, if you desert Satans Camp, and come over to Christ; but see how unreasonable this is. Shall God or the Devil be believed in this case? Will you be put off with appearances, and put away realities? They are none but Enemies to the Salvation of your Souls who thus impose upon you.