N00213:192
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.
2. Consider, How pleasing it will be to the Lord, if you do indeed Remember him in the days of your Youth, Jer.2.2. I remember the kindness of thy Youth. You heard but now, how the Lord is pleased with first, fruits, When Abel brought of the fir••••ngs of his Flock ⟨p. 105⟩the Lord […] respect to Abel and his offering, Gen.14.4. we read also, how the Lord chose the Almond Tree, Numb. 17. 8. now that's the first Tree that blossoms. The fruit of it is ripe in the Spring; [d]yea, (as •riters affirm) in the first month of the year. So when young men shall bring forth the fruit of Repentance, Faith, and holiness, that pleaseth the Lord. He hath a sp• cial delight in young men who truly fear and serve him, Hos. 11.1. When Israel was a Child then I loved him: One of the Ancients observeth that Christ loved his youngest Disciple best. John was the beloved Disciple, and he is reported to be younger at his first calling, then any of the Disciples of the Lord Jesus. And we find in the Scripture how the Lord blessed little Children when they came to him, or were brought to him, Mar. 10.13,14,16. They brought young Children to him, and when Jesus saw it, he said, suffer little Children to come unto me, and for bid them not—and He took them up in his Arms, and blessed them. You young ones hearken, would you not have the Son of God to bless you, O come to him, now in the days of your Youth, and he will surely bless you, for his Arms are open to receive you. And such are the special Subjects of a gracious promise, Prov.8.17. They that seek me early shall find me. If you will be persuaded to seek the Lord whilst it is yet early days with you, Christ hath promised, that you shall find him, and Everlasting Life and happiness by him.