N00180:39
Renewal of covenant the great duty incumbent on decaying or distressed churches. A sermon…
Renewal of covenant the great duty incumbent on decaying or distressed churches. A sermon concerning renewing of covenant with God in Christ, preached at Dorchester in New-England, the 21. day of the 1. month 1677. being a day of humiliation there, on that occasion. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Eleven lines of quotations]Renewal of covenant the great duty incumbent on decaying or distressed churches. A sermon concerning renewing of covenant with God in Christ, preached at Dorchester in New-England, the 21. day of the 1. moneth 1677. being a day of humiliation there, on that occasion. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church in Boston. ; [Eleven lines of quotations]
printed by J.F. i.e for Henry Phillips, 1677
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. In case of eminent danger and distress, So here this Church and Congregation of the Israelites having said we are in great distress, it is added, and because of all this, we make a sure Covenant. The truth is that the very dictates of natural Conscience, direct men to renew their Vows and Covenants with God at such times. And instances are not rare in the Scripture confirming this. When Jacob was to remove from his Fathers house, that was an hazardous undertaking, wherefore, he vowed a Vow saying, if God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I go, so that I come again unto my Fathers house in peace, then shall the Lord be my God. thus did he renew his Covenant. Gen.28.20,21. And Jephthah, when he was greatly distressed by reason of the Heathen who made an unjust War upon him, that put him upon solemn vowing to the Lord, and so renewing his Covenant in that way, Judg.11 30. Likewise the children of Israel, while yet in the Wilderness, when some of the Heathen that lived in the southern parts, fought against them and took some of them Prisoners, they vowed a Vow to the Lord, Numb. 21.1,2. Yet more, when the first Generation of those that came out of Egypt were dead, and another Generation risen up, who were called of God to engage in War against the Heathen Nations round about, Moses put them upon renewing their Covenant, Deut. 29.1. These are the words of the Covenant, which the Lord commanded Moses to make with the children of Israel in the Land of Moab, beside the Covenant which he made with them in Horeb, Which showeth that that only was a renewal ⟨p. 9⟩was only a renewal of the Covenant. It was necessary that the new Generation should come under the bond of a renewed Covenant.
1. In case of eminent danger and distress, So here this Church and Congregation of the Israelites having said we are in great distress, it is added, and becauseof all this, we make a sure Covenant. The truth is that the very dictates of natural Conscience, direct men to renew their Vows and Covenants with God at such times. And instances are not rare in the Scripture confirming this. When Jacob was to remove from his Fathers house, that was an hazardous undertaking, wherefore, he vowed a Vow saying, if God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I goe, so that I come again unto my Fathers house in peace, then shall the Lord be my God. thus did he renew his Covenant.