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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.
3. Hence this directs him with greatest earnestness to seek a pardon. The carnal man, when in trouble, hopeth to get ease some other way, and takes the courses which his vain heart dictates to him: but a ⟨p. 295⟩Child of God knows that there is none to be had but in the reconciled face of God, and so […] all other courses; he runs not away, from, but maketh speed to his father, and submits himself, knowing that thus only he hath a•y hope, thus did David, Psal 51. And he begs and entreats sensibly and earnestly for it.
3. Hence this directs him with greatest earnestness to seek a pardon. The carnal man, when in trouble, hopeth to get ease some other way, and takes the courses which his vain heart dictates to him: but a ⟨p. 295⟩Child of God knows that there is none to be had but in the reconciled face of God, and so 〈…〉 all other courses; he runs not away, from, but maketh speed to his father, and submits himself, knowing that thus only he hath a•y hope, thus did David, Psal 51. And he begs and entreats sensibly and earnestly for it.
4. These have all helps and encouragements to prompt them to seek and pray for a pardon. And this added to the former must needs dispose them to it, for,
1. They have already experienced the sweetness of a pardon. When they were under the terrors of the Lord, and the apprehension of their Guilt at first, God was pleased to come in with his favour, and speak peace to them; by […] in a beam of light, and letting them know that their sins were forgiven: and this was the joyfullest hour that ever they had in all their lives: the comfort of it could not be equalled by any thing in the world,