N00802:495
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 › The distress of Conscience from Gods heavy hand. DOCTRINE.
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. Learn hence how vain it is for any to live quiet and secure under the Guilt of any sin. This is it that procures the heavy displeasure of God, and as long as the Guilt remains, the reason of it abideth in us. Unless we can escape the hand of God, there is no ground for this security: as long as you have to do with God, you have no safety; if the•e lie on you Guilt unpardoned, be sure it will bring his hand on you unavoidably, Psal. 21.8. Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies; and though you are never so jocund and full of ease for the present, and feel no hand upon you, yet if God lay it on, your mirth is gone in that moment: he needs do no more but give a touch on your Consciences, and that will make them to roar upon you like so many ravening evening Wolves, and to rend you in pieces like Lions; this is the warning God giveth to all secure ones, Psal. 52.22. Though you have health, and ease, and outward peace, and prosperity, and enjoy of the World more than heart can wish, yet a Finger of God laid on you will do this, and bring you into unconceivable distress. Beware then how you live a day under the Guilt of one sin, lest in a moment this Wrath fall upon you and consume you.
2. Learn hence how vain it is for any to live quiet and secure under the Guilt of any sin. This is it that procures the heavy displeasure of God, and as long as the Guilt remains, the reason of it abideth in us. Unless we can escape the hand of God, there is no ground for this security: as long as you have to do with God, you have no safety; if the•e ly on you Guilt unpardoned, be sure it will bring his hand on you unavoidably, Psal. 21.8. Thine hand shall find out all thine enemies; and though you are never so jocund and full of ease for the present, and feel no hand upon you, yet if God lay it on, your mirth is gone in that moment: he needs do no more but give a touch on your Consciences, and that will make them to roar upon you like so many ravening evening Wolves, and to rend you in pieces like Lions; this is the warning God giveth to all secure ones, Psal. 52.22. Though you have health, and ease, and outward peace, and prosperity, and enjoy of the World more than heart can wish, yet a Finger of God laid on you will do this, and bring you into unconceivable distress. Beware then how you live a day under the Guilt of one sin, lest in a moment this Wrath fall upon you and consume you.