N01078:15
The just man's prerogative. A sermon preached privately, Sept. 27. 1706. on a solemn…
The just man's prerogative. A sermon preached privately, Sept. 27. 1706. on a solemn occasion; for the consolation of a sorrowful family, mourning over the immature death, of a pious son, viz Mr. Simeon Stoddard, who was found barbarously murdered, in Chelsea-Fields near London, May 14. 1706. / By S. Willard. ; [Two lines from II Samuel]
printed by B. Green. Sold by Nicholas Boone, 1706
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
That many general expressions in the Word of God are to be understood with a limitation, cannot be denied by him that would not impeach it of a contradiction: and yet the thing it self hath a certain and excellent Truth couched in it; and so it is here, and this may be made good in respect of the Evil of Sin, but that it is alien from my present purpose. I shall therefore confine the following Discourse to the Evil of Affliction.
That many general expressions in the Word of God are to be understood with a limitation, cannot be denied by him that would not impeach it of a contradiction: and yet the thing it self hath a certain and excellent Truth couched in it; and so it is here, and this may be made good in respect of the Evil of Sin, but that it is aliene from my present purpose. I shall therefore confine the following Discourse to the Evil of Affliction.
To make way for the clearing of the Doctrine, a few things may be offered Introductory.
1. Good and Evil may come under a Physical and a Moral Consideration. In the former sense, a thing may be said to be Good, when it is suited to the nature of Man, and adapted to his rational cravings. And in this regard, that which hath such a nature put into it, as may afford to a Man the Support of his Life, the preservation of his Health, the restoring of him to his Health, the gratification of his natural Appetites, that is good: and on this account Evil is whatsoever is contrary to this, and damnifies the Man in either of these: and this ariseth from the agreeableness ⟨p. 6⟩of the nature of the thing with the nature of Man for whose use it was made; or from its disagreeableness to it in all these: this therefore that good Man Prayed for, and obtained,