N00231:44
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
Returning unto God the great Concernment of a Covenant People.
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.
Consider. 4. What blessed encouragement we have to be Returning unto God. He had a delight in our Fathers, and hath chosen us their children to be his People. He is Our God still. He hath not written over us Lo-ammi and Lo-ruhamah. As yet we have a day of Grace. As particular persons, so Churches and Congregations have their day of Grace. Christ said unto Jerusalem, (and be wept when he said it) O that thou hadst known in this thy day the things that belong unto thy peace, Luke 19. 42. And O that in this New-Englands Day, we knew the things that belong unto our peace, before they be hid from our eyes. We may be happy, if we have an heart to consider it. The Lord we see, is loth to make us as Admah, to set us Zeboim. He is not willing to give up his own Interest here: He waits to be gracious: He waits to see if we will Return unto him, that so we may be fit for mercy, and then we shall have it. O then, let us return before the Decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the day of the Lords anger come upon us. Therefore,
Consider 5. The good that will follow in case we do Return. If we Return to the Lord, He will Return unto us, with mercies & blessings more then ever. Mal. 3. 7. Even from the days of your Fathers, you are gone away from mine Ordinances, and have not kept them: Return unto me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts. The Lord will then make it appear that he is our God, & that he is Jehovah. As he was known unto his People in the years of ancient Generations by his Name Jehovah, when he did fulfil & give Being to his gracious Promises. Mark how the Prophet Daniel speaketh, Ch. 9. v. 13. that we might turn from our Iniquities, and understand thy truth. q. d. The Lord hath promised to save and bless those that Turn from their iniquities: and if we ⟨p. 13⟩had done so, we should have known by gracious experience, the truth of Gods word. So then, if we Return, the benefit will be our own: Good will come unto our selves thereby: and to others too.