N01903:25
Silentiarius. A brief essay on the holy silence and godly patience, that sad things…
Silentiarius. A brief essay on the holy silence and godly patience, that sad things are to be entertained withal. A sermon at Boston-Lecture, on the death of Mrs. Abigail Willard, and the day before her interment; who expired Septemb. 26. 1721. / By her father. ; Whereunto there is added, a sermon on, the refuge of the distressed, which was preached on the Lord's-Day preceding.Silentiarius. A brief essay on the holy silence and godly patience, that sad things are to be entertained withal. A sermon at Boston-Lecture, on the death of Mrs. Abigail Willard, and the day before her interment; who expired Septemb. 26. 1721. / By her father. ; Whereunto there is added, a sermon on, the refuge of the distressed, which was preached on the Lord's-Day preceeding.
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland, 1721
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.
First. THERE is an Holy silence with ⟨p. 11⟩regard unto Men, to be maintained, when we are Concerned with Men, Injured by Men, in the sad Things which we meet withal. 'Tis indeed in such Cases, that we are apt most of all to fall into expressions of Impatience, and speak Un• visedly with our Lips: 'Tis when Men do Hurt us, Wrong us, Abuse us; when Men do such Things unto us as would even provoke a Stone to speak. Now in such Cases, what should be our Sentiments! Tho' it may be a Messenger from Satan that buffets us, yet Remember, there are Messages from GOD unto us in the Buffetings. And the Wards are best beard in Quietness. An Holy silence is needful, that we may listen to His Lessons. Under the sad things which we may suffer from Reproaches, we have been taught thus to think of a Calumnious Backbiter, 2 Sam. XVI. 11. The Lord hath bidden him. Yea, under sad things which we may suffer even from Robberies themselves, we must not forget, who gives us to the spoiler! We have been taught so to think; Job 1.21. The Lord hath taken away. Being thus aware of this, that if any Man be Abusive to ⟨p. 12⟩us, 'tis GOD who stirs up the Adversary, let us go on to think; I have deserved from GOD, all the sad things which this Man does unto me: And if GOD thus bring me to Repentance, they are good things which are done unto me. Go on to think; My GOD would have me scoured by the Dirt cast upon me, and more shining in the Excellent Things that are most contrary to the opprobrious Things, which are spoken of me: When works of Iniquities prevail against me, 'tis to purge away my Transgressions. Go on to think; My GOD will put me upon the Exercise of a Forgiving Spirit unto them who have offended me, that so I may have the sweeter assurance of His having Forgiven all my Offences unto Him. Under the Impression of such Sentiments, Oh! Let an Holy silence, be now kept inviolable with you. Now for an Imitation of the meek and lowly JESUS; of Whom we read, Isai. LIII. 7. He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a Lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before the shearers is Dumb, So He opened not His mouth: The meek and Lovely JESUS; of Whom we read,