Instructions for a Professing People in Times of Security and Degeneracy, Title page – Dedication
ƲSEFƲL INSTRƲCTIONS 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.