N01078:40
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.
I. Let not our expectation of Affliction put us into Consternation. It is good for us always to fear it with a fear of expectation, else when it comes it will take us on Surprise, and in all likelihood find us unready, which becomes not a true Christian; for, Prov. 28.14. Happy is the Man that feareth always. But we are apt to be put into Consternation with it, which is more perplexing to us then the thing it self. Whereas, because it is possible that the thing feared may never come to pass, it is imprudent to perplex our selves about it before hand: and it is enough to quiet us into a sedate frame, to Consider that if we are the Children of God, though it shall come, and come circumstanced as bad as we imagined, yet it shall do us no real hurt: and if we can but wait, we shall find such advantage from it, as shall make us to confess that we are sufficiently recompensed; so he assures them, Heb. 12.11. Afterwards it yieldeth the Peaceable fruits of Righteousness to those that are exercised thereby. Yea to make sure of this, the Apostle hath cast up the account, and brought in the true reckoning of it, Rom. 8.18. I reckon that the Sufferings of this present time, are not worthy to be compared with the Glory that shall be revealed in us. And then what an unreasonable thing is it, to put our selves into a fright about it?
I. Let not our expectation of Affliction put us into Consternation. It is good for us always to fear it with a fear of expectation, else when it comes it will take us on Surprize, and in all likelihood find us unready, which becomes not a true Christian; for, Prov. 28.14. Happy is the Man that feareth always. But we are apt to be put into Consternation with it, which is more perplexing to us then the thing it self. Whereas, because it is possible that the thing feared may never come to pass, it is imprudent to perplex our selves about it before hand: and it is enough to quiet us into a sedate frame, to Consider that if we are the Children of God, though it shall come, and come circumstanced as bad as we imagined, yet it shall do us no real hurt: and if we can but wait, we shall find such advantage from it, as shall make us to confess that we are sufficiently recompensed; so he assures them,