N00196:37
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.
Reas. 3. That so godly Parents might be encouraged to Pray and believe for their Children. It is marvellous pleasing unto God when his servants pray and believe not only for themselves, but for their Children also. Now a promise is an encouragement unto Prayer▪ David found in his heart to pray that God would bless his family for ever; because the Lord had promised that it should be so, 2 Sam▪ 7 3, ult. Men should not think with themselves (as some do) if their Children do belong to God, then •e will convert them, whether they pray for it or no, but should therefore be stirred up to the more fervency in cries to Heaven, for the blessing promised. I (saith the Lord) will give a new heart to you, and to your Children, yet you must pray for it. I will yet for this be enquired ⟨p. 13⟩of by the House of Israel to do it for them, Ezek. 36.26, 37. And a promise is an encouragement to Faith, as well as unto Prayer. As Paul said, I believe God, tha• it shall be even as it was told me, Act 27.25. So a Believer may say, God hath told me that he will bless me, and my family▪ […] he will pour his spirit upon my poor Children, and therefore I believe God, that it shall be as he hath told me.
Reas. 3. That so godly Parents might be encouraged to Pray and believe for their Children. It is marvellous pleasing unto God when his servants pray and believe not only for themselves, but for their Children also. Now a promise is an encouragement unto Prayer▪ David found in his heart to pray that God would bless his family for ever; because the Lord had promised that it should be so, 2 Sam▪ 7 3, ult. Men should not think with themselves (as some do) if their Children do belong to God, then •e wil convert them, whether they pray for it or no, but should therefore be stirred up to the more fervency in cries to Heaven, for the blessing promised. I (saith the Lord) will give a new heart to you, and to your Children, yet you must pray for it. I will yet for this be enquired ⟨p. 13⟩