N00254:309
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.
e. g. Watch against worldly-engagements and entanglements. These cause the Word to become unfruitful, Mat. 13. 22. And Sacraments to become unprofitable. When Christians let loose their hearts upon the World, the life of Religion is lost; and they become •ormal flight and unprofitable in their attendance upon the most solemn duties. Watch also against scandalous sins. For these will make a man utterly unfit for the present, to approach unto the holy Table of the Lord. Under the Law, if any one happened to touch a dead body, and so to become ceremonially unclean, he might not at that time, eat the Passover; but was to forbear until the next Month, Numb. 9. 6, 10. 11. So if a man hath fallen into a scandalous sin, whereby he is become morally unclean he ought not to eat the Lords Supper until such time as he hath renewed his Repentance and made his peace with God. Moreover, Christians are to watch against lesser evils. Yea, against such things as unregenerate men seldom take notice of. It may be, there have been proud thoughts stirring in thy heard; or it may be thy Spirit hath been distempered ⟨p. 154⟩with passion in the week past; and if thou hast not taken notice of it, to be humbled for it, the Lord may be provoked to withdraw his presence and blessing from his own Ordinances; and then thy Soul will not be bettered thereby.
e. g. Watch against worldly-engagements and entanglements. These cause the Word to become unfruitful, Mat. 13. 22. And Sacraments to become unprofitable. When Christians let loose their hearts upon the World, the life of Religion is lost; and they become •ormal flight and unprofitable in their attendance upon the most solemn duties. Watch also againt scandalous sins. For these will make a man utterly unfit for the present, to approach unto the holy Table of the Lord. Underth Law, if any one hapned to touch a dead body, and so to become ceremonially unclean, he might not at that time, eat the Passeover; but was to forbear until the next Moneth,