N00196:44
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.
I have been told of a Church in New England, that set apart a day for this end,1 that they might by Fasting and Prayer beg converting Grace for their Children, and that since, the Gospel hath been made successful in that Congregation, so as that a day of public Thanksgiving hath been attended, in that so many of the younger; Rising Generation have been brought home to Christ. Now if the Lord awaken a Spirit of Prayer concerning this thing in these Churches generally, there will doubtless be some blessed effect of it, with respect to the Rising Generation. And whereas God hath put it into our hearts to set apart this day, thus to seek unto him, I am persuaded it shall not be in vain, but that there are a number of souls belonging to this Congregation, that must have the spirit of the Lord pou•ed on them: Sheep that are not yet brought into the Lords Fold, that must hear the voice of the Son of God and live: Since the time that we agreed thus to set apart this day, God hath sent down plentiful showers, whereby the dry and thirsty Ground is wonderfully Refreshed: And is not that a token for good, that those blessed showers which we are Fasting and Praying for this day, shall in d•e time come down upon the Souls of our poor Children?
I have been told of a Church in New England, that set apart a day for this end,1 that they might by Fasting and Prayer beg converting Grace for their Children, and that since, the Gospel hath been made successful in that Congregation, so as that a day of publick Thanksgiving hath been attended, in that so many of the younger; Rising Generation have been brought home to Christ. Now if the Lord awaken a Spirit of Prayer concerning this thing in these Churches generally, there will doubtless be some blessed effect of it, with respect to the Rising Generation. And whereas God hath put it into our hearts to set apart this day, thus to seek unto him, I am perswaded it shall not be in vain, but that there are a number of souls belonging to this Congregation, that must have the spirit of the Lord pou•ed on them: Sheep that are not yet brought into the Lords Fold, that must hear the voice of the Son of God and live: Since the time that we agreed thus to set apart this day, God hath sent down plentiful showrs, whereby the dry and thirsty Ground is wonderfully Refreshed: And is not that a token for good, that those blessed showers which we are Fasting and Praying for this day, shall in de time come down upon the Souls of our poor Children?