N00802:985
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.
6 The near approaching of their dissolution. They have spent all their time in sinful neglects of God, and are grown old in sin; their sun is setting, and they ready to drop into the grave all their strength hath been devoted to sin and Satan; and will God accept of the dregs of their time, when they are fit for no Service? Truly, it would be a righteous thing for God to reject such as come so late, and have withstood his invitations so long: and there are but few of these that ⟨p. 340⟩truly return to him. Yet if God pleaseth to awaken such to look about them, he can magnify his mercy upon them. To see an old Sinner going to Eternity without any thoughtfulness, is a tremendous sight, but to hear such an one drying out of his miserable loss of time, and the wretched course he hath led, falling down before God, and giving him glory, is an encouragement: for if God give repentance, he will give remission; and there are some who are born out of time, to be the monuments of the admirable patience and grace of God. Fly then to Christ, and believe that he is able to do this for you. In one word, let none despair, who are under awakenings, but hearken to Gods counsel, and seek mercy of him, and you shall find him merciful and gracious.
6 The near approaching of their dissolution. They have spent all their time in sinful neglects of God, and are grown old in sin; their sun is setting, and they ready to drop into the grave all their strength hath been devoted to sin and Satan; and will God accept of the dregs of their time, when they are fit for no Service? Truly, it would be a righteous thing for God to reject such as come so late, and have withstood his invitations so long: and there are but few of these that ⟨p. 340⟩truly return to him. Yet if God pleaseth to awaken such to look about them, he can magnifie his mercy upon them. To see an old Sinner going to Eternity without any thoughtfulness, is a tremendous sight, but to hear such an one drying out of his miserable loss of time, and the wretched course he hath led, falling down before God, and giving him glory, is an encouragement: for if God give repentance, he will give remission; and there are some who are born out of time, to be the monuments of the admirable patience and grace of God. Fly then to Christ, and believe that he is able to do this for you. In one word, let none despair, who are under awakenings, but hearken to Gods counsel, and seek mercy of him, and you shall find him merciful and gracious.