N00213:194
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.
4. Consider, what Examples have been set before you, of early Conversions. Have you not read or heard of those that have turned to God in the days of their Youth? nay, that in their Childhood, the fear of God hath been planted in their hearts, that they have no sooner began to have the use of Reason, but one might discern signs and effects of grace in their souls. There is a [e]Book which many of you have in your houses, that giveth an account of thirteen Children, the eldest of them not above fourteen years old, some of them but seven years old, some not so much, that nevertheless it was evident that the fear of God and unfeigned love to Jesus Christ was wrought in their hearts. And there is a printed Relation of [f]a ⟨p. 107⟩Child that dyed not long since in this Country, who for several years before his death, had his heart changed and was made a new Creature. O how may this shame many young ones that are here before the Lord this day, who […] are older then that Child was, it may be fifteen years old, nay, perhaps twenty years old; and for all that, in a natural, Christless Estate to this day. Lamentable is thy condition, that hast lived so▪long under means of grace, and yet continuest an unconverted Creature. God be merciful to thee, and help thee to think of it.
4. Consider, what Examples have been set before you, of early Conversions. Have you not read or heard of those that have turned to God in the dayes of their Youth? nay, that in their Childhood, the fear of God hath been planted in their hearts, that they have no sooner began to have the use of Reason, but one might discern signs and effects of grace in their souls. There is a [e]Book which many of you have in your houses, that giveth an account of thirteen Children, the eldest of them not above fourteen years old, some of them but seven years old, some not so much, that nevertheless it was evident that the fear of God and unfeigned love to Jesus Christ was wrought in their hearts. And there is a printed Relation of