N00213:51
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.
Hence it is a great mercy to be born and brought up under godly Parents. 1Though some make a light matter of it, 2like Esau that said, what good shall this birth-right do me, he despised his birth-right; but the things mentioned make it appear to be a mercy indeed. To be under the wing of the Covenant, though but as to the external dispensation of it, is in it self a mercy. To have the means of grace vouchsafed, (which is ever wont to follow upon a covenant interest in God) is mercy: Wherefore the Apostle having propounded that Question, What advantage hath the Jew above the Gentile? maketh Answer, much every way, chiefly in that to them is committed the Oracles of God. Rom. •. 2. Next unto Christ and the Spirit of grace, the blessed Bible is the ⟨p. 15⟩greatest gift that ever was bestowed on the world; now this the children of godly Parents are wont to enjoy; Timothy being descended from a godly mother and grand-mother, even from a child knew the Scriptures, 2. Tim. 3. 15. To enjoy the word and Ordinances of God publicly dispensed is a great mercy; it is therefore mentioned as such a blessing as is enough to make amends for many sorrows and afflictions, Thine eyes shall behold thy Teachers, Isai. 30. 20. This is wont to be the portion of godly mens Children. And to have the benefit of private instructions, admonitions, exhortations is a great mercy; Solomon confesseth that his Father and his mother taught him good doctrine: Prov. 4. 2. It was good because for his everlasting benefit and advantage. Nor are the children of godly men without this benefit, Psal. 34. 11. Come you Children heaven unto me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. It is a great mercy to be taught and principled in the fear of God, and that betimes; to be told of the evil of sin, the infinite danger of dying in a natural unconverted estate, the necessity of obtaining an interest in Christ, and to be directed in the right way to Salvation. Also to be the subjects of much prayer is great mercy; it is mentioned concerning Solomon as a special favour God would vouchsafe to him,