N00213:152
A call from heaven to the present and succeeding generations or A discourse wherein…A call from heaven to the present and succeeding generations or A discourse wherin…
A call from heaven to the present and succeeding generations or A discourse wherein is showed, I. That the children of godly parents are under special advantages and encouragements to seek the Lord. : II. The exceeding danger of apostasy, especially as to those that are the children and posterity of such as have been eminent for God in their generation. : III. That young men ought to remember God their creator. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church in Boston in New-England. ; [Nine lines of quotations]A call from heaven to the present and succeeding generations or A discourse wherin is shewed, I. That the children of godly parents are under special advantages and encouragements to seek the Lord. : II. The exceeding danger of apostasie, especially as to those that are the children and posterity of such as have been eminent for God in their generation. : III. That young men ought to remember God their creator. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church in Boston in New-England. ; [Nine lines of quotations]
Boston: printed by John Foster, 1679
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 us approve our selves faithful in what concerns the house of God. And therefore we ought to be careful, ⟨p. 84⟩who are admitted there. Though others are also concerned therein, yet in a more peculiar manner, that matter belongs to us. We are in respect of sacred Office relation before the Lord, Porters that have the charge of his house; & we are solemnly charged, Ezek. 44.7. (it is a Scripture that concerns Ministers of the New-Testament) not to bring into the Lords Sanctuary, uncircumcised in heart, to be in the Sanctuary to pollute it, and to eat the bread of God there. Indeed as for th•se whom God hath admitted into his house (in any degree) by any Rule of his, we must not turn them out till the Lord do it. But that which I intend, is the admission of persons into full Communion, we know what our Fathers have taught concerning that matter, viz. that there ought to be an holding forth Faith and Repentance before admission to the Lords Table. And it is well said by blessed Mr. Mitchel [i]that laxness in that point, would be a real departure from our former Profession; yet I wi•h there be not Teachers found in our Israel, that have espoused loose, large Principles here, designing […] bring all persons to the Lords Supper, who have an Historical Faith, and are not scandalous in life, although they never had Experience of a work of Regeneration on their Souls, and live in the neglect of secret duties, wherein the life and power of godliness especially consists. Now this would corrupt Churches, and ruin all in a little time, The neglect [k]of this principle of Truth, that such members of the Church, as are admitted to full Communion ought to be Regenerate, converted per••ns, the non attendance unto that did (as a worthy Divine of our own hath well noted) lay the Foundation to great Apostasy, which the Christian Church hath been long subject unto. Again, […] we would be faithful as to what concerns the house of God, we must endeavour ⟨p. 85⟩