A50172:55
The way to prosperity a sermon / preached to the honourable convention of the…
The way to prosperity a sermon / preached to the honourable convention of the governor, council, and representatives of the Massachuset-Colony in New-England on May 23, 1690 by Cotton Mather.The way to prosperity a sermon / preached to the honourable convention of the governour, council, and representatives of the Massachuset-Colony in New-England on May 23, 1690 by Cotton Mather.
Boston: printed by Richard Pierce for Benjamin Harris, 1690
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.
This Two-fold Presence of God;
First, It has a Diverse Foundation. When we look on the Covenant of Grace, there the Sins of one are expiated by the Sufferings of another; and so, God comes to be with His people, for whom the Atonement is thus Procured. Thus tis said in 2. Cor. 5. 25. Christ was made sin [or a Sin-offering] for us, that we might become the Righteousness of God in Him. Now come to outward Providence, and there you see other measures taken. Here God is with a people, according to those Terms, in Ezek. 18. 20. The Soul that sinneth IT shall dye; one shall not bear the Iniquity of nother.
Again, It hath a Diverse Continuance. When we look on the Covenant of Grace, there God hath bound Himself to be with His people for ever; yea, to see that they shall therefore for ever be with Him. He there says as in Jer. 32. 40. I will not turn away from them to do them good, but I will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me. Now come to outward Providence, and there ⟨p. 12⟩you see tis otherwise. God is with a people for a while; and upon their misbehaviours and provocations, He changes the Tenor of His Dispensations to them. Tis with them, as it was with that family, in 1. Sam. 2. 30. I said indeed, that thy house should walk before me forever; But now the Lord says, that be far from me.
Again, It hath a Diverse Continuance. When we look on the Covenant of Grace, there God hath bound Himself to be with His people for ever; yea, to see that they shall therefore for ever be with Him. He there saies as in