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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 2: Guilt apprehended, Distressing to Gods Children. DOCTRINE II.
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. If you do fall into such a Condition, it will be terrible. No man knows the dismalness of it, but he that hath felt it: It will Soak out your moisture, and Dry up your marrow, and terribly scorch you. Read those sorrowful ditties, Psal. 38. & 88. And ask your own hearts, whether it be not a matter of greatest concern to avoid the precipitating your selves into it. And for advice here,
1. See to a particular forgiveness for old sins. Sins committed a great while ago, it may be before you were Converted, you may think it is enough that you had a general pardon: but if there have been any more particular sins; and you have not made a particular business of them, they may thus trouble you afterwards. David puts up such a petition, Psal. 25.7. Remember not the Sins of my youth. And Job makes such a complaint, Chap. 13.26. Thou makest me to possess the iniquities of my youth. Lay in then some particular evidence of such a pardon given you.
2. Take heed of carnal confidence in your pardoned State. There is no little hazard of this: Bless ⟨p. 158⟩God for it, wonder at the riches of his Grace in it, and study how to express a Suitable holy thankfulness for it: but do not grow secure, bold, fearless on the account. God will not take it well if you so do, and it may provoke him to with draw, as he did, for this reason from David, Psal. 30.6, 7.