N00196:33
Pray for the rising generation, or A sermon wherein godly parents are encouraged, to…
Pray for the rising generation, or A sermon wherein godly parents are encouraged, to pray and believe for their children, preached the third day of the fifth month, 1678. which day was set apart by the Second Church in Boston in New-England, humbly to seek unto God by fasting and prayer, for a spirit of converting grace, to be poured out upon the children and rising generation in New-England. / By Increase Mather, teacher of that church. ; [Seven lines of quotations]
printed by Samuel Green, 1678
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.
3. A spirit of Converting Grace is such a Blessing as never goeth alone: that setteth forth the greatness, and eminency of it: If (saith the Apostle) God give us his Son, shall he not with Him give us all things, Rom 8.32 So if the Lord give his holy spirit to us, and to our Children, shall he not with him give all things: Godliness hath the promise of this life, and of that which is to come, 1 Tim 4.8 We should not trouble our selves about laying up great portions or much of the things of this World for our Children; if we can but prevail with God to pour his spirit on them, to give grace to them, they are sure never to want as long as they live in this World. Is not pardon of sin a rich and glorious blessing, which our poor Children, because they are our Off spring stand in need of? Now if the Lord pour a spirit of converting grace on them, their sins shall be forgiven, Mar. 4.12: Is not eternal life and glory a great Blessing? the pouring of the spirit on the sou• is a certain sign and evidence of one that is designed unto eternal li•e in Heaven: Therefore the Scripture speaketh of the first fruit of the spirit, Rom 8.23 And of the earnest of the spirit, Eph 1 14 If the Lord give grace to our Children, he will give glory too, yea he will withhold from them no good thing, Psalm 84.11.
3. A spirit of Converting Grace is such a Blessing as never goeth alone: that setteth forth the greatness, and eminency of it: If (saith the Apostle) God give us his Son, shall he not with Him give us all things, Rom 8.32 So if the Lord give his holy spirit to us, and to our Children, shall he not with him give all things: Godliness hath the promise of this life, and of that which is to come, 1 Tim 4.8 We should not trouble our selves about laying up great portions or much of the things of this World for our Children; if we can but prevail with God to pour his spirit on them, to give grace to them, they are sure never to want as long as they live in this World. Is not pardon of sin a rich and glorious blessing, which our poor Children, because they are our Off spring stand in need of? Now if the Lord pour a spirit of converting grace on them, their sins shall be forgiven, Mar. 4.12