N01078:81
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.
Considerations, TO Prevent MURMURING, AND Promote PATIENCE in CHRIS… › USE.
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.
USE.
I. We should not think we are not God's Children, merely because we meet with sore Afflictions. The Devil is a busy Temper, a malicious Foe; he does whatever he can, to disturb and distress the Saints. How often does he tempt them, to doubt that they are not God's Children, merely because they meet with Troubles? He's ready to suggest to them, Surely if God Loved you, he would not Afflict you thus; if he was your Friend and Father, he would not chastise and distress you after this Rate. Thus he often tempts the Saints. But we should not give place, to such vain groundless suggestions as these are. The Devil himself, that Father of Lies, can't suggest any thing more contrary to Scripture than this; Namely, That Gods Afflicting a Person, is a sign that he does not Love him. For the Scripture saith expressly in so many words, Heb. 12.6. Whom the Lord Loveth, he chasteneth; and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth. And our Lord Jesus says, Rev. 3.19. As many as I Love, I rebuke and chasten. Let us not therefore give way to Satan's Temptations, but with the Sword of the Spirit (even the Word of God) let us fight against them. Let us firmly believe, that God may Dearly Love us, and yet Sorely Afflict us at the same time.
I. We should not think we are not God's Children, meerly because we meet with sore Afflictions. The Devil is a buisy Temper, a malicious Foe; he does whatever he can, to disturb and distress the Saints. How often does he tempt them, to doubt that they are not God's Children, meerly because they meet with Troubles? He's ready to suggest to them, Surely if God Lov'd you, he would not Afflict you thus; if he was your Friend and Father, he would not chastise and distress you after this Rate. Thus he often tempts the Saints. But we should not give place, to such vain groundless suggestions as these are. The Devil himself, that Father of Lyes, can't suggest any thing more contrary to Scripture than this; Namely, That Gods Afflicting a Person, is a sign that he does not Love him. For the Scripture saith expressly in so many words,