Helps to Composition, Or, Five Hundred Skeletons of Sermons Volume 2, PT. 1; PT.1. Sermons CCCXLIII Through CCCCLXXIII (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1802 Excerpt: ...free from this disposition They watch and pray against their besetting sin--Yet are sometimes brought under the power of it--On these occasions they are tempted to fret against the Lord--They are ready to expostulate with him like thofe of oldd--They forget how justly they might have been eternally forfaken--And that the remaining power of their sins is the consequence both of former habits, and of present neglects--Under afflictions also they scel too much proneness to murmur--What sinsul impatience did the holy Elijah manisest" --Even Job himself preserved not wholly a becoming temperf--This disposition however is most, hateful in the sight of God II. The evil of it Jt betrays the most deplorable ignorance God is not, nor can be, the author of sinHe maintains in all things the character given of him--Hence St. James shews the folly of casting blame on Godb--Nor can God punish any of us more than our iniquities deserveHence the expostulation of the prophet is unanswerable'--Besides, to fret against God is not the way to interest him in our behalf--Nor will it lend to the peace and compofure of our own spiritsIt is as unprofitable to us as it is unjust towards him--True wisdom would teach us to humble ourselves in his presence--And to renew our supplications with greater earnestness--This conduct is as sure to succeed, as the other is to fail of successi4--It manisests the most obstinate impenitence Both sins and sorrows ought to produce humility--When they increase our rebellion, our state is almost desperate1--How awsully does such a temper characterize God's enemies'" --And make us resemble thofe that are consigned over to perdition" --Surely nothing more heinous can be laid to our charge--Nor any thing more speedily fit us for destruction...