N01903:61
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.
ISAIAH XXXVIII. 14. O Lord, I am Oppressed; Undertake for me.
THE Wis•st Course, the Only Course! It was well done, O Servant of the Lord: Whither, whither else couldest thou have gone for Help? Where else couldest thou have applied thy self with any comfortable Expectation? An Imitation of this Holy Example, is the Thing I have to propose unto my Hearers. In such an Evil World as this present World, we cannot be without frequent and many ⟨p. 2⟩Occasions. But at this Evil Time, the Occasions multiply exceedingly. Lord, How are the Things increased which trouble us! Many, many are the Loads that we feel Oppressing of us. The Wounds given to many, in the Deaths which take away the Desire of their Eyes with a Tragical Stroke; And the Weary Nights that are appointed for many more in the Condition of our Families; These are some of the many Things, that cause us to groan, Lord, I am Oppressed under what is done unto me. How often are we distressed, until we even Cry out of our Oppression? Whither shall we Look in our Distresses, but unto Him alone, who can Support and Rescue us? Lord, whither shall we go from thee! Thou hast the Words of all our Help!
THAT Religious and Renowned Prince Hezekiah was visited with a terrible Sickness. I know not, whether it was in the Time, while Jerusalem was actually besieged by Sennacherib, or whether it was after the miraculous Raising of the Siege, by the Angels, and the Thunders of Heaven. If this Calamity befell him after his remarkable Deliverance ⟨p. 3⟩from his Adversary, it was, as Jerome notes, To Chasten him, left his Heart should be listed up, too far, post incredibiles triumphos et de media Captivitate Victeriam. Let it be how it will, after his Deliverance from that Calamity, he composes an admirable Song, which expresses his Dispositions and Circumstances, while it was yet upon him. In this very thing, there is a pattern given to all Good Men, that have endured Great Afflictions, and Received Great Salvations. O ye Men of Great Experiences, You ought to Commemorate what you have Experienced; you ought to prepare and preserve Memorials of what you have met withal; you should at least leave these Memorials with your own Families, that they may learn to place their Hope in GOD.