N00802:826
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 2: Forgiveness obtained in the way of Prayer. DOCTRINE II.
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.
5. Hereby we testify what an high value we have for a pardon. God expects that we place a worthy esteem on his benefits. Men that do not pray for pardon, show that they prize it not. It is a poor thing that is not worth asking: But when with earnest Supplications, and undeniable requests, we besiege the throne of Grace, and will not let God alone till we have it, we show that we account it a glorious thing: and when we obtain it, we shall be answerably affected with it; and God will so be glorified by our thanksgivings.
5. Hereby we testify what an high value we have for a pardon. God expects that we place a worthy esteem on his benefits. Men that do not pray for pardon, shew that they prize it not. It is a poor thing that is not worth asking: But when with earnest Supplications, and undeniable requests, we besiege the throne of Grace, and will not let God alone till we have it, we shew that we account it a glorious thing: and when we obtain it, we shall be answerably affected with it; and God will so be glorifyed by our thanksgivings.
2. It is the disposition of every gracious Soul thus to pray. I do not mean that they are always actually engaged in it; they may sometimes keep silence, as David, Verse 3. But that there is a principle in them disposing to this, and will sooner or later put them upon it: and there are these things that will make it clear.
1. The Grace in a Believer, not only fits him for, but also inclines him to Universal Obedience. Grace is put into us as a principle of Obedience; now it is of the nature of every principle that it hath a tendency to the reaching of its end: and it is universal Obedience that we were made for, and for ⟨p. 294⟩