N00091:294
The mystery of Israel's salvation, explained and applied: or, A discourse concerning the general…The mystery of Israel's salvation, explained and applyed: or, A discourse concerning the general…
The mystery of Israel's salvation, explained and applied: or, A discourse concerning the general conversion of the Israelitish nation. Wherein is showed, 1. That the Twelve Tribes shall be saved. 2. When this is to be expected. 3. Why this must be. 4. What kind of salvation the Tribes of Israel shall partake of (viz.) a glorious, wonderful, spiritual, temporal salvation. : Being the substance of several sermons preached / by Increase Mather, M.A. teacher of a church in Boston in New England. ; [Ten lines of Scripture texts]The mystery of Israel's salvation, explained and applyed: or, A discourse concerning the general conversion of the Israelitish nation. Wherein is shewed, 1. That the Twelve Tribes shall be saved. 2. When this is to be expected. 3. Why this must be. 4. What kind of salvetion the Tribes of Israel shall partake of (viz.) a glorious, wonderful, spiritual, temporal salvation. : Being the substance of several sermons preached / by Increase Mather, M.A. teacher of a church in Boston in New England. ; [Ten lines of Scripture texts]
London: printed for John Allen, 1669
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.
"1. Idolatry is a most heinous sin: A most guilty crime. As Tertullian of old rightly said of it: 'Tis, saith he, the principal crime that mankind is guilty of. And indeed there is no (y)iniquity that is a greater abomination unto God: Hence Idols are called detestable things. Yea the Lord calleth Idols by the name of Devils, Deut. 32.17. 2 Chron. 11.15. And from hence it cometh to pass that the holy God is wont to be dreadful in his judging for this sin. This iniquity provoketh the eyes of his glory to send bitter destruction, to make his arrows drunk with blood, and to furbish his great and glittering sword for the slaughter. Seldom, if ever, hath it been seen, that a Nation which hath been taught better, hath fallen to Idolatry, but the God of jealousy hath sent the Pestilence; yea, and sooner or later, the sword into the bowels of that Nation, to the end that he may repay vengeance upon the heads of blind Idolaters. I remember a (z)Jewish Rabbi hath an observation, that never any judgment came upon the Israelitish Nation, but God put in one ounce of vengeance more for that iniquity of the Calf in the wilderness. And yet then they only worshipped the true God after a false superstitious manner: They would worship Jehovah still, but because they did it in such a way, and by such means as he never commanded, neither did it enter into his heart; The Lord did surely visit for that iniquity. Now the Jews lie under the guilt of Idolatry, therefore their ⟨p. 173⟩conversion (even that conversion which is yet to come) is described by saying, they shall be turned from Idols, and cleansed from Idols, and say, what have I to do any more with Idols? &c. because Idolatry was the reigning sin in the days of the Prophetsl. Also because, though the Jews now dread that kind of Idolatry which their fathers were guilty of, sc. Iconolatry, or the worshipping of graven Images; yet they worship God in another way than he hath appointed; for out of Christ do they worship, and that's Idolatry; therefore the Apostle, after he had said, Jesus Christ is the true God, and eternal life, immediately addeth, keep your selves from Idols,