N00802:611
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 › Right Confession, its nature and usefulness. DOCTRINE. › Proposition 6: PROPOSITION VI.
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.
4. That this must be witnessed in the Conscience to give it ease. There is peace with God upon the applying of a pardon, Rom. 5.1. The very act of forgiveness past in the Court of Heaven, is a fruit ⟨p. 221⟩of Gods being reconciled, and rendereth the mans state peaceable: but this peace doth not influence the Conscience to make peace there, till it be acquainted with, and ascertained of this forgiveness; he still reads his Guilt, and that is his trouble, and •ill he can get some good security of his pardon, he is not satisfied: The report indeed that there is forgiveness with God, and the offer of it made to him, is some relief, and affords him a supporting hope against utter despair, but it must be a signed and sealed pardon, read to him, that will restore him to real comfort; there is many a Malefactor is Executed for all the mercy of the Prince: God may be a God of forgiveness, and many may taste of it, but he may perish. Time was when he pleased himself with a general notion of mercy, but now he considers what God hath said, Isa. 27.4. Fury is not in me; who will set bri•rs, &c. And so he cannot rest, till Christ saith to him, Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven; the man must have a good ground to believe his pardon, as he hath been assured of his Condemnation.
4. That this must be witnessed in the Conscience to give it ease. There is peace with God upon the applying of a pardon, Rom. 5.1. The very act of forgiveness past in the Court of Heaven, is a fruit ⟨p. 221⟩of Gods being reconciled, and rendereth the mans state peaceable: but this peace doth not influence the Conscience to make peace there, till it be acquainted with, and ascertained of this forgiveness; he still reads his Guilt, and that is his trouble, and •ill he can get some good security of his pardon, he is not satisfied: The report indeed that there is forgiveness with God, and the offer of it made to him, is some relief, and affords him a supporting hope against utter despair, but it must be a signed and sealed pardon, read to him, that will restore him to real comfort; there is many a Malefactor is Executed for all the mercy of the Prince: God may be a God of forgiveness, and many may taste of it, but he may perish. Time was when he pleased himself with a general notion of mercy, but now he considers what God hath said,