N00180:52
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.
Consider, 2. What cause there is to set about this work in good earnest. Have we not been under sad distresses? and do not the solemn Rebukes of God upon us call for solemn Renewal of Covenant? Of late there have been Burnings which the Lord hath kindled. At home there hath been Death, abroad the sword hath bereaved. And shall we not because of all this make a sure Covenant? If otherwise, there is not so much of […] spirit found amongst us, as ought to be. For he could say, Our Fathers have fallen by the Sword, our Sons, our Daughters, and our Wives are in Captivity, now it is in my heart to make a Covenant with the Lord God of Israel. 2 Chron 29.9 10. Besides all this, God holds the Sword in his hand still. He hath not laid down his controversy. Sometimes we hear Rumours as if wounded Chaldeans were like to rise up, and distress this Land more then ever. We have cause to fear another Storm of wrath, seven times greater then the last, is yet impending, and not far of, if we do not make haste to take some effectual course to prevent it. There are things which I forbear to mention that look with an ominous aspect upon poor New-England. All should awaken us to this our duty. Furthermore, the iniquity which is found amongst us, calls aloud hereunto. Our […] which are many testify against us. There is a lamentable decay in New England as to the power of Godliness. This Generation is far short of the former. It was showed but now, how the Covenant hath been transgressed Where is the Life of Discipline in our ⟨p. 17⟩Churches? And as to the Children […] the discipline of Christ almost totally neglected. And give me leave to say to you, that an Omission of that nature in you, hath more of evil in it, then in some others, because you have been abundantly instructed in Principles, & Truths of that kind, by your former blessed Teacher. I shall never forget what he said to me when upon his death-bed, about […] namely, that Care should be taken that the rising Generation be brought under the Government of Christ in his Church, & when grown up & duly qualified that baptism should not be […] from their Children. If then the Covenant hath not been duly observed, it ought to be renewed.
Consider, 2. What cause there is to set about this work in good earnest. Have we not been under sad distresses? and doe not the solemn Rebukes of God upon us call for solemn Renewal of Covenant? Oslate there have been Burnings which the Lord hath kindled. At home there hath been Death, abroad the sword hath bereaved. And shall we not because of all this make a sure Covenant? If otherwise, there is not so much of spirit found amongst us, as ought to be. For he could say, Our Fathers have fallen by the Sword, our Sons, our Daughters, and our Wives are in Captivity, now it is in my heart to make a Covenant with the Lord God of Israel.