N01078:83
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.
II. We should not think, that the most Afflicted Persons, are always the most Wicked. As a Person's meeting with great Adversity, is no certain sign that he is not a Child of God; So his meeting with greater Afflictions than others, is no certain sign that he is a greater Sinner than they. God's love or hatred, is not to be learned merely from the external dispensations of his Providence. Eccles. 9.2. All things come alike to all: there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked: to the good, and to the clean and to the unclean; to him that Sacrificeth, and to him that Sacrificeth not: as is the Good, so is the Sinner; and he that Sweareth, as he that feareth an Oath. Job was an Eminently holy and pious man, God himself says of him, Job. 1.8. There is none like him in the Earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil. And yet this remarkably holy man, met with distinguishing remarkable Afflictions; scarce any in the World ever met with such trials as his were, all things considered. The greatest Saints, have sometimes the greatest trials; While on the other hand, those that are scandalously Wicked, are incompass'd with great Prosperity. The Ungodly do sometimes Prosper in the World, they Increase in Riches, their Eyes stand out with fatness, they have more than heart can wish, Psal. 73.7, 12. Sometimes the Wicked, Live, become Old, yea are Mighty in Power; they spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the ⟨p. 22⟩grave, Job 21.7, 13. If we therefore see or hear, that some remarkable great Affliction is befallen such or such an one; we must not presently say nor think, surely he's a greater Sinner than others. If we should thus speak, we should offend against the Generation of God's Children. We should but argue like the Ignorant Barbarous Heathen of Malta, when they saw the Viper fasten on Paul's hand, Act. 28.3, 4. Our Saviour would not have us think, That the greatest Sufferers, are always the greatest Sinners; as we may plainly see,