N02384:1165
A complete body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the…A compleat body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the…
A complete body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the Assembly's Shorter catechism wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are unfolded, their truth confirmed, their excellence displayed, their usefulness improved; contrary errors & vices refuted & exposed, objections answered, controversies settled, cases of conscience resolved; and a great light thereby reflected on the present age. / By the Reverend & learned Samuel Willard, M.A. late Pastor of the South Church in Boston, and vice-president of Harvard College in Cambridge, in New-England. ; Prefaced by the pastors of the same church. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]A compleat body of divinity in two hundred and fifty expository lectures on the Assembly's Shorter catechism wherein the doctrines of the Christian religion are unfolded, their truth confirm'd, their excellence display'd, their usefulness improv'd; contrary errors & vices refuted & expos'd, objections answer'd, controversies settled, cases of conscience resolv'd; and a great light thereby reflected on the present age. / By the Reverend & learned Samuel Willard, M.A. late Pastor of the South Church in Boston, and vice-president of Harvard College in Cambridge, in New-England. ; Prefac'd by the pastors of the same church. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]
printed by B. Green and S. Kneeland for B. Eliot and D. Henchman, 1726
AN EXPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY's SHORTER CATECHISM: IN Two Hundred a… › Sermon 42 (Question 11)
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.
3. HOW shall he exercise the Graces of Patience & Contentation without it? If this one Argument should fail a Child of God, I dare say that he can find no other Bottom to build the Exercise of these Graces upon; and that more especially in Times of forest Trial: How can he Sanctify God in the Fires; Rejoice in the Want of all things; Uphold his Profession in Integrity, when he is sore broken in the Place of Dragons; Suffer cheerfully the Loss of Estate, Liberty, yea Life itself, in the Defence of the Truths of Christ; If he doth not believe that there is the Wisdom & Power of God Managing of those Affairs? What was it that stopped David's Mouth? Psal. 39.9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth because thou draft it.
3. HOW shall he exercise the Graces of Patience & Contentation without it? If this one Argument should fail a Child of God, I dare say that he can find no other Bottom to build the Exercise of these Graces upon; and that more especially in Times of forest Trial: How can he Sanctify God in the Fires; Rejoice in the Want of all things; Uphold his Profession in Integrity, when he is sore broken in the Place of Dragons; Suffer cheerfully the Loss of Estate, Liberty, yea Life itself, in the Defence of the Truths of Christ; If he doth not believe that there is the Wisdom & Power of God Managing of those Affairs? What was it that stopt David's Mouth? Psal. 39.9. I was dumb, I opened not my mouth because thou draft it.
[2.] THERE is no Truth which Satan more endeavours to undermine our Belief of than This. He is on all occasions seeking to raise some Scruples & Doubts in our Minds about it: He looks upon this as one main Pillar of our Faith, and if he can once shake it, he hopes he shall without great Difficulty overthrow the whole Building: If he can bring us to Dispute against Providence, he knows that our Religion doth soon come to an End: Hence 'tis that God's People, have found such Temptations strongly assaulting them in Hours of Trial; Doth God indeed Care for us? Hath he not forgotten to be Gracious? Is be not mindless of our Trouble? Doth be regard tho' we Perish? And the more such Tumultations we find within us the more should we engage our selves strenuously to fortify against them.