N00196:45
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.
Consider 3. What encouragement we have to be at this work. The success which such Prayers have had (of which something hath been mentioned, and much more might be spoken) should encourage us. As for some of us, our Fathers and Mothers now in glory, did pray for us when they were in the World, and God heard them, did they that we are sprung from, pray for us? and ⟨p. 16⟩hath God heard them? and will he not hear us if we go and pray in like manner for our Off-spring? And have we not already seen some Answers? If we look into our Families, do we not discern that as to some of our Children, the fear of God is put into their hearts? And why should we not look upon that as a first fruits, that all the rest of our Children shall be converted in due time? Moreover, the consideration of the Covenant, and Promises of God respecting Children, are a great encouragement to pray for them. This is his everlasting Covenant, I will be a God to thee and to •hy seed after thee, Gen. 17.7. This promise is expressed indefinitely, and therefore doth encourage godly Parents to plead with the Lord for mercy and grace for all their Children: As an Holy man once said, and it was a great word of Faith in him, If I had twenty Children I would not bate God one of them. He hath promised to be a God to my children indefinitely,1 and therefore I'll pray for them all, and believe for them all, and why should it not be so, since the Lord himself hath said, ALL thy Children shall be taught of God, Isai. 54.13. And the Scripture doth abound with particular promises, respecting the Conversion and Salvation of the Children of godly Parents: When thou dost that which is good, and right in the sight of God, it shall go well with thy Children after thee for ever, Deut. 12 28 There is special mercy belonging to those that are the Seed of the blessed of the Lord, and to their Off-spring with them, Isai. 65.23. yea promises of converting Grace to be poured upon them,