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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 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.
4. They have been greatly hardened by these carriages. Every resistance made to the Spirit of God hardens men more: there is a contracted hardness which corroborates that which is natural. Hence they need more terrifying, breaking and humbling dispensations, to bring them down to the foot of God, and make them apprehensive of their evil ways, and doings; if the Prophet betroth […] old harlot, he will make her tarry for him many days, Hos. 3 3. Let not such then murmur at Gods so dealing with them, but remember their carriage to him, and justify him in this, and say, we deserve not only this delay, but utter rejection: nor yet be discouraged, but acknowledge Gods wisdom in it, and wait with humble submission hoping in his Grace, and resolving, if ever he comes, it will be admirable favour.
4. They have been greatly hardned by these carriages. Every resistance made to the Spirit of God hardens men more: there is a contracted hardness which corroborates that which is natural. Hence they need more terrifying, breaking and humbling dispensations, to bring them down to the foot of God, and make them apprehensive of their evil ways, and doings; if the Prophet betroth 〈…〉 old harlot, he will make her tarry for him many days, Hos. 3 3. Let not such then murmur at Gods so dealing with them, but remember their carriage to him, and justify him in this, and say, we deserve not only this delay, but utter rejection: nor yet be discouraged, but acknowledge Gods wisdom in it, and wait with humble submission hoping in his Grace, and resolving, if ever he comes, it will be admirable favour.
USE III. For awakening to all to improve the season of Grace. Are there such special seasons of Grace? Let the consideration thereof call every one to make the use of them, and use utmost diligence, not to slip such an opportunity: and if ⟨p. 343⟩