N00213:46
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.
Is it not a great encouragement unto a Child, when he can say, my gracious Father hath •arried my Name before God in secret many a thousand time, even every day and night since I was born […] the world? certainly these prayers shall not all to the ground.
Is it not a great encouragement unto a Child, when he can say, my gracious Father hath •arried my Name before God in secret many a thousand time, even every day and night since I was born 〈…〉 the world? certainly these prayers shall not all to the ground.
5. Such Children have blessed Examples set before them. Now that's a great advantage. 1That wise Heathen could say, plus vivitur exemplis quam proe•cptis, Examples will do more then precepts, upon ⟨p. 12⟩young ones especially. A Father that walketh with God may say to his Children as Paul to the Corinthians, unto whom he was a spiritual Father, 1 Cor. 4. 45, 16. In Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the Gospel; wherefore I beseech you be you followers of […] And again, Chap. 11. 1. Be you followers of me, even as I also […] of Christ. So may a Father that walketh before God as he ought to do, say to his Children, observe my Example, and follow me as I follow Christ. Or as the same Apostle said to Timothy thou hast […] is […] Doctrine and […] of life, 2 Tim, 3. 10. Timothy was intimate with Paul, and therefore doubtless knew more of his secret way of walking and Communion with God, then was known or imagined by the World, so do Children observe more of their Parents holy course of life, then others do, which is no sin all advantage. A Child is witness of his Fathers Zeal, Faith, Patience; he seeth that his Father is conscientious and holy, and much in prayer to God. Now what an advantage is this? He needs not go far to see how he ought to walk and please God, for he seeth it before his eyes every day, by the Example and Copy his Father sets before him. Moreover, it is a great encouragement nto the Child of a godly Parent, when he can think and say, my Father did serve God and the Lord accepted of him, therefore if I serve God, he will accept of me. My Father did repent and believe, and walk in the way of holiness, God blessed him and his Family; therefore if I walk in the steps of my Fathers faith and obedience, the God of my Father will bless me and mine for ever.