N00254:106
Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness
Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness: wherein several important duties, are urged, and the evil of divers common sins, is evinced; delivered in sundry sermons. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in New-England. ; [Ten lines of Scripture texts]
printed by Samuel Green upon assignment of Samuel Sewall, 1682
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.
4. The time of prosperity. Even before the floods of great water come: The miserable Jews are ruined because they knew not the time of their visitation. Luk. 19 44. As long as the offers of Grace lasted; and whilst they enjoyed days of external peace, that was the time of their visitation, and the day for them to have known the things of their peace. Had they prayed then, as they should have done, they might have been happy for ever. Men will be most likely to be sincere in their praying to God, if they do so in the time of their prosperity, and therefore most like to find him then. There are some, that when trouble is upon them, they will pour out a Prayer, yet the Lord accepts not of them, because they do it not with a sincere heart. Hos. 7.14. They have not cried unto me with their hearts, they howled upon their beds, they assemble themselves for Corn and Wine, & they rebel against me. When Drought, and Caterpillars, and Famine was upon them, they would pray; and if the Judgement were removed, they would sin, and rebel as bad as ever; so that their Souls were not right in the sight of God, and therefore he did not accept of them, but compares their Prayers to Howlings, thereby to signify how odious and abominable they were in the ears of the Holy God of Truth. Wherefore, the Lord calls upon men, that if they would find mercy, or prevent misery from coming upon themselves they ⟨p. 46⟩pray unto him, before the day of adversity come upon them, Jer. 13.16. Give glory to the Lord your God before he cause darkness before your feet stumble upon the dark Mountains. As yet (saith the Prophet you have a day of prosperity, pray before that Sun be set upon you. Give glory to God by confessing your sins, and humble seeking his face and favour, before your enemies come, and drive you away before them over the dark mountains of Israel, into a long-lasting Captivity. And this had been the way to have prevented their Captivity.
4. The time of prosperity. Even before the floods of great water come: The miserable Jews are ruined because they knew not the time of their visitation.