N00802:740
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 › Gods readiness to forgive on Penitent Confession. 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.
4. There is no obtaining it but in this way of Confession. It is Gods will, and there is all reason for it, that men must part with their sins, as they hope to have them forgiven: and if ever they part with them, they will confess them: or how shall we go to God for his forgiveness, but by carrying our sins with us to have them forgiven? And in what way can we spread them before him, but in an hearty confessing of them? how shall God be Glorified by us, unless we acknowledge our desert to have suffered his wrath for our sins? and what exception can Sinners make against this? if God should require some great thing of you, would you think it too much, in order to escaping his wrath? What pretensions did they make, Mic. 6.6, 7. How much more then, when this is all, if you confess and forsake, you shall find mercy.
4. There is no obtaining it but in this way of Confession. It is Gods will, and there is all reason for it, that men must part with their sins, as they hope to have them forgiven: and if ever they part with them, they will confess them: or how shall we go to God for his forgiveness, but by carrying our sins with us to have them forgiven? And in what way can we spread them before him, but in an hearty confessing of them? how shall God be Glorified by us, unless we acknowledge our desert to have suffered his wrath for our sins? and what exception can Sinners make against this? if God should require some great thing of you, would you think it too much, in order to escaping his wrath? What pretentions did they make, Mic. 6.6, 7. How much more then, when this is all, if you confess and forsake, you shall find mercy.
5. Be assured that he will not always sit in this Office. The Throne of Grace which is now Erected, will ere long be removed: the Golden Sceptre that is now Stretched out, will shortly be withdrawn; if now you slight the offers of a pardon, you ⟨p. 270⟩