N00213:201
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. Hearken to good Instruction. In the holy Scriptures God himself instructs you. And therefore let young ones be diligent in reading the Scripture, that is the way to become like unto Timothy, to whom it was said, from a Child thou hast known the holy Scriptures which are able to make thee wi•e •• to Salvation, through the Faith that is in Christ Jesus, 2 Tim.3.15. And when David had propounded that Question, wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? the Answer given is, by taking heed thereto according to thy Word, Psal.119.9. For the most part it is so, that the ways of young men need much cleansing. Youth is commonly the unclean part of a mans Age, but those young men that will make conscience to order their ways and walkings according to the Word of God, shall thereby be cleansed. And, the Word preached, and publicly dispensed, is a means appointed by the Lord for the instruction of young ⟨p. 112⟩ones, that they may learn the fear of God, Deut. 31▪12,13. Gather the People together, men and women, and Children, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and that their Children which have not known any thing may learn to fear the Lord. And therefore mind seriously what the Ministers of God speak in his Name. Mind it young men, le•t you mourn at last, and say, How have I hated Instruction, and have not obeyed the voice of my Teachers, nor inclined mine Ear to them that instructed me! Yea, and hearken to the good Instructions which you receive from those whom God hath set over you. Have you not Masters, Fathers, Mothers, that admonish you and give you good counsel from day to day! despise them not. Doth not the Scripture say to you, •ear ye Children the Instruction of a Father, Prov.4.1. And again, My Son hear the Instruction of thy Father and forsake not the Law of thy Mother, Chap.1.18. Eternal woe is like to be the portion of those Children that regard not what Father and Mother say to them: Remember Eli his Sons; they were proud and head-strong; their Father reproved them, and exhorted them to amend their ways, it is said, Notwithstanding they hearkened not to the voice of their Father because the Lord would slay them.