N00802:960
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. That the Gospel Ministry and Ordinances, are the ordinary instruments by which God Converteth Sinners. He hath seen meet to make this the appointed way of promoving the Salvation of men. 1 Cor. 1.21. Rom. 10.17. Where he sendeth not these, it is an awful sign that he hath none of this work to do there.
2. That they are the Gospel truths, by the dispensation whereof he useth them as instruments. They are moral instruments, and therefore their business is to treat with men: and the matter of the treaty is, these great truths that declare the Counsel of God, and the way wherein Sinners may come to enjoy him, in and through Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 2 2.
3. Hence the faithful dispensation of these truths is that which gives men all the advantage to seek and find God. Their work is an Embassy, 2 Cor. 5.20. And the business is Reconciliation; which is to be advanced by opening the terms, and urging of them suitably. If then they are faithful, and do seriously, and solemnly pursue this design, there is all that can be expected of instruments by way of information and excitation. Legal Preaching sufficeth not for this, but Preaching Christ, and the way of Peace by him: and the more there is of this, the more is the advantage of such a people.