N00196:51
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.
1. Let Parents b• su•e that they be converted themselves, Deut. 30.6. I will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy Seed. If our own hearts be circumcised, we may pray in Faith that the Lord will circumcise the hearts of our Children, otherwise we cannot do it. Parents that have not grace themselves are not fit to pray fo• Grace to be poured on their Children; nor indeed can they do it: for the spirit of supplication is the Spirit of grace, Zech. 12 10. Nor can they believe for them. An Hypocrite, or unconverted man cannot act Faith for his Child's soul, who never yet did believe for his own Soul. Nor doth this promise in the Text belong to other Parents, Psal 128.4. Behold that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
1. Let Parents b• su•e that they be converted themselves, Deut. 30.6. I will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy Seed. If our own hearts be circumcised, we may pray in Faith that the Lord will circumcise the hearts of our Children, otherwise we cannot do it. Parents that have not grace themselves are not fit to pray fo• Grace to be poured on their Chi•dren; nor indeed can they do it: for the spirit of supplication is the Spirit of grace, Zech. 12 10. Nor can they believe for them. An Hypocrite, or unconverted man cannot act Faith for his Childs soul, who never yet did believe for his own Soul. Nor doth this promise in the Text belong to other Parents, Psal 128.4. Behold that thus shall the man be bless•d that feareth the Lord.