N00802:928
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 3: God to be sought in a finding time. DOCTRINE. III.
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.
1. Resolve on this to be the first and most necessary thing. It is a point of prudence to be rightly informed in this matter. The most that perish for ever, have this plea to make for themselves, that they minded that which they accounted most necessary, yielding to the pleadings, and importunities of the flesh; but weigh things in an equal balance: enquire what will be of greatest moment to you when you come to part with time, and think that to be so now: And I am […] that will be the favour of God.
1. Resolve on this to be the first and most necessary thing. It is a point of prudence to be rightly informed in this matter. The most that perish for ever, have this plea to make for themselves, that they minded that which they accounted most necessary, yielding to the pleadings, and importunities of the flesh; but weigh things in an equal ballance: enquire what will be of greatest moment to you when you come to part with time, and think that to be so now: And I am 〈…〉 that will be the favour of God.
2. Lay aside all that will hinder, and subordinate every other affair to this. When vain and unprofitable things press hard to be minded, resolutely tell them you have a more important business on your hands, and time little enough to attend that; and if the needful affairs of this life would impose upon you, see that you entertain them not to the hindrance of this great concern, but to make them to serve under it, to this end; beware of any weight that should impede your race, Heb. 12. 1, 2. Reckon all time lost, which doth not advance your communion with God.
3. Apply your selves to the use of all means by which you may find God. Give diligence in attendance on the Gospel Ordinances, whiles you have the liberty of them; read, hear, pray, meditate; when any such opportunity offers, think, it may be I shall have no more such in this world, time may be done with me before another comes: and let this thought make deep impression on your hearts, and rouse you up, not only diligently to attend these means, but make it your business to seek, that you may find God in them all.