N00802:1950
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. But God hideth the light of his countenance from me, and I have not ground sufficient to conclude my self to be one of these upright ones, and I should be presumptuous if I should arrogate this joy.
A. This is one of the hardest cases of all, and seems to carry the fairest plea; and they that make it think they have stopped the mouth of all reproof: indeed such deserted souls a•e to be pitied; but there is something to be said in this case; here then,
A. This is one of the hardest cases of all, and seems to carry the fairest plea; and they that make it think they have stopt the mouth of all reproof: indeed such deserted souls a•e to be pittied; but there is something to be said in this case; here then,
1. Have you not provoked God to this, and can you rest till the breach be made up again? I deny not but that a serious soul, that can neither apprehend his own good estate by the things that accompany salvation, nor by the witness of the Spirit in him, must needs be stopped in the exercise of his spiritual joy: but is this a condition to be lived in? or should we take pains to maintain it? Surely no. It is a time to make diligent search, to find the cause, and get it removed; and pray hard as he, Psal. 51.11. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation.
1. Have you not provoked God to this, and can you rest till the breach be made up again? I deny not but that a serious soul, that can neither apprehend his own good estate by the things that accompany salvation, nor by the witness of the Spirit in him, must needs be stopt in the exercise of his spiritual joy: but is this a condition to be lived in? or should we take pains to maintain it? Surely no. It is a time to make diligent search, to find the cause, and get it removed; and pray hard as he,