N02384:1469
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 54 (Question 14)
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.
I. IN the general nature of it; more particular considerations about it will follow afterwards. Here then are two Particulars in the Answer to be observed, 1. The Rule to which Sin bears a relation, or by which it is denominated; viz. the Law of God. 2. The relation itself which Sin bears to this Rule, set forth in two things; 1. By way of defect; a want of conformity. 2. By way of excess; a Transgression. And these are the things now to be spoken to.
I. CONCERNING the Law unto which Sin hers a relation. The particular treating of it in it's nature, and parts, will follow to be p••sned afterwards, (when we come to enquire into the duty which God requires of man.) Here only so much may be taken notice of concerning it, as may help us in the discovery […] nature of Sin, which may be gather• up in these following Conclusions, 1. The Law of God is that Idea or Platform •••ording to which God determined to govern mankind. It is the rule of special Government. God made all creatures for some end, […] they were to be led to that end by some rule: and every creature hath a rule suited to it's nature, according to the wisdom and pleasure of Him who is Lord of the creation. Man being a cause by counsel, and capable of acting deliberately, and voluntarily, was treated withal in the way of a Covenant, in which he had a work appointed him, and wages promised him; now this Law referred to his work, and was the condition of the first Covenant. It was that which God revealed to be his will concerning man's duty. He had therefore laid it out in his decree, in which respect the Law is an everlasting rule: for though God did not from Eternity purpose, that man should actually obey it; yet it was an everlasting decree, that it should be man's duty so to do, and that he should stand or fall accordingly. And hence the judgment so passeth upon men, Isai. 19.20. 2. THIS Law was given unto man at first for the rule of his bedience. God was pleased to reveal it unto man as soon as he had made him, to be his square and compass; it past into a command, it was to tell him what was good,