N00802:92
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
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. You have not so sinned, but that God can magnify his mercy in forgiving you. It will be no reproach to his Justice, because Christ hath done enough to answer that; and it will be a wonderful manifestation of his Grace: God will be for ever admired in your pardon and salvation; the more and more aggravated sins are forgiven you, the more will his kindness appear to you, and the more praises will be to his name for ever: and your love will be the more enlarged to him, because he hath forgiven you much, Luk. 7.47. and God highly prizeth the Attribute of his Grace.
3. You have not out-sinned the examples of his pardoning mercy. It is an encouragement to think, that whatsoever you have to say against your selves, in this respect, you may find a parallel instance for it in the word of God, of such who were in the same Condemnation, and yet are forgiven, as hath already been pointed at in the Explication. And what God hath done, he can do, for His Arm is not shortened; and it is to be hoped he will do, for he is as gracious now as ever.
3. You have not out-sinned the examples of his pardoning mercy. It is an encouragement to think, that whatsoever you have to say against your selves, in this respect, you may find a paralel instance for it in the word of God, of such who were in the same Condemnation, and yet are forgiven, as hath already been pointed at in the Explication. And what God hath done, he can do, for His Arm is not shortned; and it is to be hoped he will do, for he is as gracious now as ever.
4. You have not out-sinned the Gospel call. It is Gods rich forbearance that you have not, but through mercy you have not. Why then do you stand drooping and desponding! be of good cheer, he calls you; he sends to you, he makes you the offers of his Salvation; the proclamation of pardon is not out, there is room for you to come in and have it; you grieve him that you suspect his willingness, you cannot better please him, than to adventure and cast your selves upon his mercy.