N00802:643
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.
2. We are not duly ashamed of our selves for our Sin. And this follows upon the former: for all excuses are but fig-leaves to cover our own nakedness with; they are but pretence, on which we may hold up our heads with the more confidence, whiles our mouths are not stopped, but we have something to plead for our selves, we do not express the due abasement that God looks for of us, till we can come to say as he, Ezra. 9.6. I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face, &c. A proud confession will never find acceptance with him, who seeth the proud afar off: the lower we lie in the dust, the nearer we are to find him.
2. We are not duly ashamed of our selves for our Sin. And this follows upon the former: for all excuses are but fig-leaves to cover our own nakedness with; they are but pretence, on which we may hold up our heads with the more confidence, whiles our mouths are not stopt, but we have something to plead for our selves, we do not express the due abasement that God looks for of us, till we can come to say as he, Ezra. 9.6. I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face, &c. A proud confession will never find acceptance with him, who seeth the proud afar off: the lower we ly in the dust, the nearer we are to find him.
3. We do not duly Justify God in our acknowledgements. When we think our selves not so much to blame as others, when we lay the fault on Satan or his Instruments, when we complain of Gods withdrawings, or Providential exposing us to Temptation, when we charge him for not affording us his assistances, and thereupon think it over severe for him to proceed with us according to the rigour of the Law; in all which we reflect on, and do not Justify him: how then should he receive such a Confession.
3. We do not duly Justify God in our acknowledgments. When we think our selves not so much to blame as others, when we lay the fault on Satan or his Instruments, when we complain of Gods withdrawings, or Providential exposing us to Temptation, when we charge him for not affording us his assistances, and thereupon think it over severe for him to proceed with us according to the rigour of the Law; in all which we reflect on, and do not Justify him: how then should he receive such a Confession.