N02384:268
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 6 (Question 2 cont.)
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.
(2.) INTENSIVELY. What work it doth make in a Soul, where it comes with power, they that have felt and found it can best tell. It's force is irresistible. Heb. 4.12. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul & spirit, and of the joints & marrow, and is a discern•r of the thoughts and intents of the heart. It's power of Conviction is very terrible and amazing. It can strike mo•• terrors into the Soul of a proud Sinner, than all the World besides. It is compared to sharp Arrows, Psal 45.5. Thine •rrows are story in the heart of the kings enemies; whereby the people fall under thee. One Line of it could set that proud King into an amazing horror: when he saw the hand-writing on the wall, 'tis said, The King's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his lo•ns were loosed, and his knees smote one against another. (Dan. 5.5, 6.) Nay it strikes the stout hearts of Devils themselves, and fills them with Consternation. Jam. 2.19. The Devils believe & tremble. It is compared to a Sword: Eph. 6 17. The sword of the spirit, which is the word of God. And it cuts not Bodies but Souls One Sermon out of it wounded Three Thousand at once, and laid them as dead men. Acts 2.37. Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart—. Again, it's power of Conversion is astonishing. This is it that converts the Soul. Psal. 19.7. The low of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Hence is the new birth ascribed to it. 1 Pet. 1.23. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth & abideth for ever. And in this work is the unperswadible heart of man persuaded: it raiseth the dead to life, quickens them that were dead in sin: it casts down all the powers that did mightily oppose. 2 Cor 10.4, 5. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through' God, to the pulling down of strong holds: casting down imaginations & every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. It turns Sinners into Saints; Wolves, Bears & Lions into Men; Devils incarnate, into holy ones. (