N00231:45
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 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. Ezek. 18. 30. Repent and turn your selves, so we read it, but the Hebrew word (m)[Jehashibu] signifieth, to make to be Converted, Repent and make others to be Converted. It is always the property of true Repentance, that it maketh men endeavour that others may repent too. And usually, If one Repent, another followeth: Examples are very powerful: your Zeal saith the Apostle, hath provoked many, 2 Cor. 9. 2. If one Church set a good example, it may be, many will follow: And then, O what glory will come to the blessed Name of God. If a People should become all Righteous, the Lord is glorified, Isa. 60. 21. And what joy doth this cause in heaven? If there be joy in Heaven, when one Sinner Returns unto God; how much more, when a whole Church shall become zealous and Repent, and engage themselves to a more close and holy walking with God, then ever before?
Consider 5. The good that will follow in case we doe Return. If we Return to the Lord, He will Return unto us, with mercies & blessings more then ever.