N00231:14
Returning unto God the great concernment of a covenant people. Or A sermon preached…
Returning unto God the great concernment of a covenant people. Or A sermon preached to the Second Church in Boston in New-England, March 17. 1679.80. when that church did solemnly and explicitly renew their covenant with God, and one with another. By Increase Mather teacher of that church. ; [Ten lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by John Foster, 1680
Letter: To the second Church of Christ in Boston in New-England.
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.
Also, another ([…] faithful man) that was chosen, (though not ordained) by the Church unto some Office Relation therein, was immediately made unserviceable, from that day to this, by reason of those infirmities that still prevail over him. These are very solemn rebukes of Christ, the Lord help us to understand his mind and meaning therein. That awful Dispensation of Divine Providence which befell us above three years ago, when the house of God, (for so doth the Scripture call those places which are set apart for his worship, Psal. 74. 8. & 83. 12) was burnt with fire, and above forty dwellings near adjoining, all consumed in one fatal morning, I need not acquaint you with, for you have not forgotten it, and the marks and Remembrances of those Desolations are still daily to be seen. You likewise know what a ⟨image ?⟩terrible diseases the Lord hath since that, visited us with, whereby eleven persons (besides many Children) belonging to this Church, have been removed from us, and some of them such as were an Ornament to the Church, as well as the glory of Christ, in respect of those spiritual gifts and graces that shined in them.
Also, another (〈…〉 faithful man) that was chosen, (though not ordained) by the Church unto some Office Relation therein, was immediately made unserviceable, from that day to this, by reason of those infirmities that still prevail over him. These are very solemn rebukes of Christ, the Lord help us to understand his mind and meaning therein. That awfull Dispensation of Divine Providence which befel us above three years agoe, when the house of God, (for so doth the Scripture call those places which are set apart for his worship, Psal. 74. 8. & 83. 12) was burnt with fire, and above forty dwellings near adjoyning, all consumed in one fatal morning, I need not acquaint you with, for you have not forgotten it, and the marks and Remembrances of those Desolations are still dayly to be seen. You likewise know what a ⟨image ?⟩