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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66112	Useful instructions for a professing people in times of great security and degeneracy delivered in several sermons on solemnm occasions / by Mr. Samuel Willard ...	Willard, Samuel, 1640-1707.	1673 (1673)	Wing W2299; ESTC R38936	67,962	82

lively example before them in every way suiting and answering the present state of Ierusalem he therefore sets it forth 1. By the title it once bare the place c. 2. By the evils which were brought upon it where 1. The author God himself what I did 2. The procuring cause the wickedness of my people Israel Hence Doct 8. The example of Gods judgements upon his own people for their sin and wicked Apostacy are very useful and solemn considerations for all professors of Religion the Lord sends Ierusalem to Shiloh and for what end only to see what he did and for what to view his judgements in their causes and effects to see i. e. not only to look on but to consider them seriously and to make use of them to themselves and learn something from it for their own conviction by comparing cases together The ground of the truth we may understand if we consider a few propositions viz. 1. God hath one rule of dealing with all his externally covenanted people in the world and that because the covenant with them all runs upon the same terms and conditions for it is a conditional Covenant in the which there is a promise and a threatning a promise annexed to obedience but a threatning denounced against disobedience Isa 1. 19 20. It is true God reserves a soveraignty to himself as to the circumstances of his dealings with his people in one place or in another without either infringing his Covenant or rendring to the creature a Reason of that variety hence possibly patience and mercy may longer wait upon some then others some God may come severely out against for breach of Covenant and to others he may condescend to allow a greater space to repent in as he pleaseth and he does not the least wrong or injury in so doing because he is both supream and hath ends in all his judgements beyond the capacity of the creatures finding out but as to the essence of the Covenant he thus far stands positively and absolutely engaged to reward obedience and to punish disobedience which flows from his everlasting righteousness 2. Examples of Gods judgements upon his own people for their sins are evident confirmations and testimonies that he is a God who proceeds impartially according to his own Rule as when Laws are executed according to the tenor of them upon malefactors in the Kingdome we now know that such Laws were not meer scare-crows made only to fright but not to hurt but that there was reality in the Law-makers and that they were really set against such evils to subvert and 〈◊〉 them out and may teach others to expect what to meet with in the like cases so when God punisheth sin in his people according to his threatning in his word we now see that those threatnings are realities that his orders and constitutions are not bug-bears but realities that sin shall not go unpunished Hence God declares in his word that he will be known to be God in his judgements Exek 28. 22 if men will not believe the word that God will do as he hath said but presume upon his mercy and patience when he takes his rod into his hand now he is mad that believs not 3. Hence Examples have matter of precept in them Gods judgements are documents there are doctrinal conclusions to be drawn for our instruction out of them hence we shall find God in Scripture calling upon his people to look upon Examples thus Luk. 17. 32. 2 Pet. 2. 4 5 6 c. If God have thus dealt with such a people we may thence conclude he will deal so with those that are so qualified i● we enjoy the same priviledges that Israel did and make no better use of them then they made of theirs we may expect to be visited as well as they were and not only may we argue a p●●i but also ab impa●i from the lesser to the greater if Israel so priviledged were not spared how much less shall we be spared who exceed them in priviledges if sinners under the Law found no favour how much sorer punishment may sinners under the Gospel expect God writes his severe truths with the blood of his disobedient Subjects and makes their ruinons heaps to proclaim knowledg and counsel to the rest of the world Sodom's ashes Shiloh's fire Ierusalem's desolation are uses of instruction to the Inhabitants of the Earth 4. Examples are of wondrous benefit to give efficacy to Doctrines and move upon the affections and bring them to consideration they are useful to perswade and to move the soul to make out after God Psal 7● 6 7 8. 1. Because there is a natural sympathy between the children of men there is a kind of a fellow feeling of sufferings when we read only of Doctrines these may reach the understanding but when we read or hear of Examples humane affection doth as it were represent to us the ca●e as our own whereupon the judgements of God do in the very hearing dwell upon the thoughts and take upon the heart when I read the story of Sodom's overthrow me thinks I see the Sun rising in glorious brightness the Sodomites sporting and pleasing themselves in their opulence and security when on a sudden me thinks I see the heavens covered with those sable clouds and hear the great Cannon of heaven thundring down tempests upon them and the streams of fire with horror and dread till I behold a proud City on a sudden become a desolate heap when I read Ierusale●s history me thinks I see the battering Engines placed against the walls the proud enemy climbing up the battlements the feeble and faint-hearted Citizens flying into corners overtaking by the insulting foe who without mercy or pity sheaths his sword in their bowels me-thinks I see the fire-balls flying too and fro and the glorious buildings the work of many years yeelding to that prevailing and mercyless enemy I hear the cries of ravished virgins and bereaved Orphans yea I look on till I see all Gods threatnings fulfilled and the glory of the Nations stript of all ornament and become a widow c. Because examples come in by the senses and these have a great stroake to move the affections and they perswade the heart of man Lam. 3. 51. 3. Because Examples have an awakening voice in them when judgment comes into the world it carries awe with it it sensibly moves the soul to have consideration such as these are natural influences upon the heart of such as have any remainder of an acting conscience in them viz. 1. Why may not the same judgments befall us what grounds have we to promise our selves security and immunity from the same plagues miseries which are upon others 2. Hereupon they put the c●eature in mind of its ways and doings what they have been now conscience if it be not altogether seared and benummed reads the creature a more close and severe Lecture then usuall now those sins that he had before lived

VSEFVL INSTRVCTIONS for a professing People in Times of great SECURITY AND DEGENERACY Delivered in several SERMONS on Solemn Occasions By Mr. Samuel Willard Pastor of the Church of Christ at Groton Ezek. 3. 17. Son of Man I have made thee a Watchman to the House of Israel therefore hear the Word at my mouth and give them warning from me Amos 3. 8. The Lord God hath spoken who can but Prophesy Jer. 2. 31. O Generation See ye the Word of the Lord have I been a wilderness unto Israel a Land of darkeness wherefore say my People we are Lord● we will come no more unto thee Haggai 1. 5 7. Thus saith the Lord Consider your wayes CAMBRIDGE Printed by Samuel Green 1673 To his Beloved Friends the Inhabitants of GROTON THat it was not a desire to appear in publick but to answer your requests gave light to the ensuing Sermons ye are my witnesses and that in the publishing of them I have no● endeavoured to va●nish and paint them over with flourishes of men pleasing words the thing it self may speak in the reading you shall finde nothing but what was delivered in Preaching Touching the occasion of them I need not advertise you you may well enough call to minde the loud voice of speaking pro●idences which for●ad me in such a day to be silent The sad ●andof God whic● was upon the poor possessed Creature which produced that on Isai 26. 9. hath sounded through this Wilderness but you were eye witnesses of it the Lord affect your hearts and give you to learn righteousness The other two were also upon solemn Occasions the hand of God upon this Land and us in particular ●ids Ministers to cry aloud the Lord God hath spoken who can but Prophesie I know mans corruption is not willing to beclos●ly dealt withal but I hope many of you have not so learned Christ My hearts desire and prayer for you is that you may be prepared for shaking times and the nearer they approach the more need have we to be hastened and roused from our loytering If these poor labours of mine may help in that great business ●have my ends fully answered and my desire for you is that those affections may be blown up again in the reading which were kindled in the preaching I know I have but a while to be among you if God please to mak● me by these or any other weak endeavours to be under him instrumental of your 〈◊〉 good I shall dye with joy and so meet you all at the right hand of our Judge in that great day is the highest ambition of Your unworthy Minister S. W. Jer. 7. 12. But go ye now unto my Place which is in Shiloh c. IN the beginning of this Chapter the Lord sends by his Prophet to call Judah and Jerusalem to true Repentance encourageing them to it by a promise of establishment of their peace and mercies in case they would so do v●r 1 2 3 5 6 7. c. That this counsell of his may take effect upon them he endeavours to reclaim them from their vain confidence in their external worship and enjoyment of the Temple and Ordinances ver 4. After which he enlargeth himselfe by a Declaration of their hypoc●●● 〈◊〉 dealings and false trust in the Temple as if it were a sure safe g●●rd t● them from punishment notwithstanding all their wicked abom●●● 〈◊〉 on s ver 8 9 10. which vanity he declares to b● a changing of a 〈◊〉 of holy worship into a den of ●obhers ver 11. and then gives them to understand that he takes notice of it And in the Text further 〈◊〉 the● off from their vain confidence by sending them to Shiloh to take notice of his dealing with them for thir sins From the context diverse Truths are Observable Doct. 1. When God is never so much provoked with a people 〈◊〉 yet tenders them termes of peace before he cutts them off In the th●e● last verses of the former Chapter he shews what they were 〈◊〉 rebellious and counselless people on whom he had laid out much 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom he had sent many messengers who had spent their breath 〈◊〉 lives to no purpose and yet here again he sends an invitation to re●●●tance with a conditional promise of good before he 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 last sentence against them The like we shall find 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. 1. and 18. 11. c. Reason 1. From the great desire which God hath that sinners sh●●● 〈◊〉 li●e that he may verifie that truth Ezek. ●8 ●● That sinners 〈◊〉 know where the true and proper cause o● their destr●ction 〈◊〉 ●ha● is in themselves and not in him they shall not have the blame to 〈◊〉 ●pon God in the least and therefore he pro●●ers pardon and 〈◊〉 holds out the flag of peace before them that if in the time of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 will come in they may and welcome Reas 2. From the Attributes of mercy and long-suffering which discover themselves in withholding the stroak of vengeance and holding his hand back Ier. 3. 12. 2 Pet. 3. 9. God will have a time for all his Attributes to appear now is the day of mercy and now God will let sinners have large trusts of it he warns yea follows on to warne and perswade with a people that if it be possible they may escape Reas 3. For the advancement of his glory by his patience God a●m● at himself his own glory in all his doings now by this Clemency of his he will gaine honour either to his mercy in their welfare or his justice in their ruine which every way God will be a gainer hereby if they r●pent how will they magnifie his patience and so bearance if they be ●bstinate and perish how eminently will he clear his justice in their ruine Use 1. This may convince us how unreasonable a thing it is to sin against God is God so unwilling to punish so desirous to do us good so ready to pardon us who would sin against and provoke such a God ●old presumptuous and horrible is that spirit of iniquity that makes Gods patience and mercy his encouragement to sin would we deal so by man who would take encoucagement to vex and anger one that is good and patient to us that is the aggravation of their sin Psal 1●6 43. their deliverances were the occasion of their presumption to sin Use 2. What encouragement is there here to us after all our grievous sins to return to the Lord by Repentance God is yet ready to receive us and r●store his mercies unto us and therefore let us be quickned up by this consideration motive 1. Consider the wonderful self denyal that there is in God he needs us ●ot but could do well enough without us being self-sufficient in himself yea hath Angels which attend upon him and that he should ac●ept of dust and ashes much more unprofitable sinful creatures and ●ceive them into mercy oh what a condescendency is this 2.