N02384:578
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 20 (Question 4 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.
USE 1. THIS shows us what a glorious Object GOD is, for the Souls of Men to confide in: what a happiness it is for any to have this God for their portion; the vast difference between God and the Creature in point of trust. The very first reason which the wise Man gives, why the Creature is a vain Object, and not to be confided in, is because of its Changeableness, Eccl. 1.4. This casts disparagement upon the best of them: if we confide in riches, they have Eagle's wings, &c. if in honours, they are slippery places; if in pleasures, that which is delightsome to day, is tedious to morrow; if in friends, they love and hate upon every turn; but God is ever the same, and that Unchangeably: his other Attributes will tell us how great a portion, and how full of good he is: this added to them, saith he is a safe portion; there is no danger in trusting in him; none ever did so that were put to shame: many have come away ashamed from other Objects, none ever from him.
USE 1. THIS shews us what a glorious Object GOD is, for the Souls of Men to confide in: what a happiness it is for any to have this God for their portion; the vast difference between God and the Creature in point of trust. The very first reason which the wise Man gives, why the Creature is a vain Object, and not to be confided in, is because of its Chang•bleness, Eccl. 1.4. This casts disparagement upon the best of them: if we confide in riches, they have Eagle's wings, &c. if in honours, they are slippery places; if in pleasures, that which is delightsome to day, is tedious to morrow; if in friends, they love and hate upon every turn; but God is ever the same, and that Unchangably: his other Attributes will tell us how great a portion, and how full of good he is: this added to them, saith he is a safe portion; there is no danger in trusting in him; none ever did so that were put to shame: many have come away ashamed from other Objects, none ever from him.
USE 2. HENCE it must needs be a fearful thing to fall under the wrath of this God. This Attribute speaks sadly to all those, that neglecting to improve the day of his Grace, do pull upon themselves the day of his Vengeance. God hath declared to us in his word, that he will certainly destroy all such as accept not of his offered grace in the day of it; and woe to them that run the adventure of this hazard. God adds the consideration of this Attribute, as well to confirm his Menaces as his Promises,