N00802:1926
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
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 You have enough to think of, to swallow up all your present joy in sorrow. Whatever matter o• gladness you meet in the common Providence of God; all this while it is certain that you are Gods enemies, cursed Sinners, heirs of destruction, under a sentence of death, and may expect every moment when it shall be executed upon you, and post you down to the blackness of darkness for ever: did you know this, could you be so frolic? if God but touch Conscience, you shall have all dashed at once; terror will drink up your spirits, & make you a Magor missabib.
3 You have enough to think of, to swallow up all your present joy in sorrow. Whatever matter o• gladness you meet in the common Providence of God; all this while it is certain that you are Gods enemies, cursed Sinners, heirs of destruction, under a sentence of death, and may expect every moment when it shall be executed upon you, and post you down to the blackness of darkness for ever: did you know this, could you be so frolick? if God but touch Conscience, you shall have all dashed at once; terrour will drink up your spirits, & make you a Magor missabib.
4. This joy of yours will, if you take not heed, prevent you of ever reaching the true joy. If your mirth holds, and be not interrupted, you will never come to the fullness of joy in Gods presence. You must mourn, and that bitterly, if ever you come to the joy of the Lord. There must always be a seed time of tears in order to an harvest of joy, Psal. 126.5. Observe that too, Luk. 6.25 Carnal mirth is the greatest enemy to Conversion.