The Danger of Not Reforming Known Evils, and Other Works

Williams’ first piece on The Danger of Not Reforming Known Evils, is a master-exhortation in calling the wayward church, those professing they have been effectually called, to reform those things in their midst that need correcting. People who have been changed by the Spirit desire holiness. If the people of Christ’s church are inwardly changed, why would they not want to change and reform those things that are amiss among them? In such people there would be a great inexcusableness to them for being a knowing people and yet refusing to be reformed. And if they do not see that they have need of reforming those things that are amiss, what does that say about them? Or, even worse, what if they do not want to change those things that are known evils? This argues their desperate state, even though they may outwardly be professing believers.

His second piece is on the great salvation that is offered in the Gospel. He sets this down in five main propositions to show the Gospel’s greatness, as well as the means and manner in which sinners may come to attain the salvation offered in the Gospel by Jesus Christ. This particularly applies to the idea of the outward call which is indiscriminate, and the inward call of the Spirit in the heart which is particular. His main text is, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation,” (Hebrews. 2:3). He teaches the main doctrine that salvation revealed and offered in the Gospel is great and glorious, and the neglect of it will bring upon men great and unavoidable misery.

His third piece is to prompt a serious consideration that God through Christ will visit and judge all men for their sin, taken from Job 31:14, “What then shall I do when God rises up? and when he visits, what shall I answer him?” Here he outlines the reality that though the Gospel is preached among the nations, and men hear it, what good will it do them if they do not receive it and heed its call? What will they do when God rises up against them at judgment? And if they neglect the Gospel, God’s only means of escaping the wrath to come, they will find themselves at their mortal end standing before a holy Judge who will sentence them accordingly by his law, for their sins.