N00213:76
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.
1. Be thank full to the Lord in that he hath given you to be born of godly parents: in that you have been (as David speaketh) cast upon the Lord from the womb And he hath been your God from your mothers belly. Psal. 22. 10. You might have been born of such Parents as would have nursed you up in ignorance, profaneness or idolatry, and so your souls have been under a necessity of perishing for ever, but the Lord hath given you to be of parents that have designed you for God, and for his glory. Yea it was for your sakes especially that your Fathers ventured their lives upon the rude waves of the vast Ocean. Was it not with respect unto posterity, that our Fathers came into this wilderness? that they might train up a generation for Christ: Bless God that ever you had such Fathers.
1. Be thank full to the Lord in that he hath given you to be born of godly parents: in that you have been (as David speaketh) cast upon the Lord from the womb And he hath been your God from your mothers belly. Psal. 22. 10. You might have been born of such Parents as would have nursed you up in ignorance, profaness or idolatry, and so your souls have been under a necessity of perishing for ever, but the Lord hath given you to be of parents that have designed you for God, and for his glory. Yea it was for your sakes especially that your Fathers ventured their lives upon the rude waves of the vast Ocean. Was it not with respect unto posterity, that our Fathers came into this wilderness? that they might train up a generation for Christ: Bless God that ever you had such Fathers.
2. Plead the Lords gracious Covenant with him, he is very willing that you should do so: Ask me concerning my sons and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. Isa. 45. 11. You say you cannot give grace to your own Souls. True! But hath not the Lord in the Covenant of grace said, I will give you a new heart.