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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.
USE I. Learn hence how vain a thing it is for these to presume of a pardon, who neglect ⟨p. 297⟩Prayer. And are there not too many of these? God knows who they are, who hold up their heads with confidence, and pretend to rely on him for forgiveness, who yet ca•l not upon him: they seek not God, and yet hope that he will accept them; but be not deceived; though God is Gracious, yet if you cannot pray, you will miss of this favour; and good reason, for it argueth,
1. Great insensibleness of your Guilt and want. •f Sin were your burden and bitterness, it would bring you to lie prostrate before God; and what should he do with a pardon, who feels not his need? if you know not that you are miserable, you are not in a posture to receive forgiveness at Gods hands.
1. Great insensibleness of your Guilt and want. •f Sin were your burden and bitterness, it would bring you to ly prostrate before God; and what should he do with a pardon, who feels not his need? if you know not that you are miserable, you are not in a posture to receive forgiveness at Gods hands.
2. Horrible Pride. Prayerless Sinners are proud Sinners, and therein they discover it; it saith you count your selves too big to stoop to God: and what little reason have such to expect favour? they are the humble and the penitent that are most like to find favour: and the soul that is truly humbled will fall to prayer; but God seeth the proud a far off.