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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
The Sincere Servants of God will make Conscience of Secret Prayer.
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.
Ans. 1. It implieth constancy in the Practice of this duty. Thus when it is said, Pray without ceasing. 1 Thess 5.17. i. e. don't begin to practise the duty, and afterwards leave off; but hold out all your days therein. It is the same with that, Eph. 6. 18. Praying with all perseverance, So that Phrase of night and day, intends the same thing, Rev. 7 15. They serve him day and night in his Temple, h. e. continually and without intermission. Thus Isai. 62.6. The watchmen of Jerusalem shall not hold their peace day nor night, h.e. they shall hold on in their duty. Time you know is divided into day and night. If then a man shall continue to serve God, both by night and by day, then he doth serve him always.
Ans. 1. It implieth constancy in the Practice of this duty. Thus when it is said, Pray without ceasing. 1 Thess 5.17. i. e. don't begin to practise the duty, and afterwards leave off; but hold out all your dayes therein. It is the same with that, Eph. 6. 18. Praying with all perseverance, So that Phrase of night and day, intends the same thing, Rev. 7 15. They serve him day and night in his Temple, h. e. continually and without intermission. Thus Isai. 62.6. The watchmen of Jerusalem shall not hold their peace day nor night, h.e. they shall hold on in their duty. Time you know is divided into day and night. If then a man shall continue to serve God, both by night and by day, then he doth serve him alwayes.