N00802:796
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 1: Examples of Pardoned Sinners, our Encouragement DOCTRINE I.
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. When we strengthen our ca•nal security in sin by it. The use of such examples i• that when we have fallen through temptation, and are terrified at it, we may be encouraged hereby to Repentance, and make haste to God for a pardon: but if, instead of this, we argue there is no danger, we may put off the Conviction, and delay our Repentance, and get a pardon when we will; and so live and lie under Guilt without remorse, this is to prevent the end of such instances, and the ready way to be lost by the Spirit of God, to be hardened in sin, to our ruin.
2. When we strengthen our ca•nal security in sin by it. The use of such examples i• that when we have fallen through temptation, and are terrified at it, we may be encouraged hereby to Repentance, and make haste to God for a pardon: but if, instead of this, we argue there is no danger, we may put off the Conviction, and delay our Repentance, and get a pardon when we will; and so live and ly under Guilt without remorce, this is to prevent the end of such instances, and the ready way to be lost by the Spirit of God, to be hardened in sin, to our ruine.
3 When we use them only for encouragement, and not for direction. We take that part of the instance such an one so sinned against God, and provoked him, and yet God was merciful, and forgave him, and by this fortify our Presumption, that there is ⟨p. 285⟩no danger, we need not be afraid, but we never enquire what they did, or in what way they found the mercy of God; and thus they are so far from being an Example, that they become a Snare to us, and instead of using them for Gods Glory, and advantage, we gratify Satan, and expose our selves to the greater hazard. Take heed then lest we be deceived; though Penitent David got a pardon, yet impenitent Sinners, have no reason to conclude from thence that they shall fare as he did.