N00254:341
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.
The Idolaters are vain persons. An Idol is nothing in the world. It hath no other deity belonging to it, besides what is in the vain imagination of the Idolater. Idols are called Vanities. The vanities of the Gentiles (i. e. their Idols) cannot give rain. When men Idolize any thing, they will never find that in it, which they hoped for. They will find their Idols vain, and themselves vain in their expectations of great matters from them, Jer. 3. 23. Truly in vain is salvation ⟨p. 169⟩hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of the mountains, h. e. from those Idols which the […] were wont to serve upon hills. and upon many mountains. Now it is against the Rule to have familiarity or unnecessary correspondence with Idolaters. The Lord said a most strict […] on his people concerning this thing charging them to beware of entering into consecracie what these Idolaters they lived amongst. A […] the New Testament it is said, what com••ion […] hath sight with darkness? what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? Come out from amongst them, and be ye separate saith the Lord, 2 Cor. 6 17. We may not have at all to do with such in their Idolatrous worship, and as little as may be as to […] communion. So concerning t••ose that hold any Fundamental Error in Religion, Henericks (truly so called) are vain persons. And we ought not to have communion with such but if they persist in their Error, we should decline their Society, Tit. 3 10. A man that is an Heretic, after the first and second Admonition reject. The Rule forbids Christians to vouchsafe so much as common, civil entertainment unto such persons, 2 John 10. If there come any unto you, and bring not this Doctrine receive him not into your house, neither bid him, God speed. Have as little to do with all such persons as may be.
The Idolaters are vain persons. An Idol is nothing in the world. It hath no other deity belonging to it, besides what is in the vain imagination of the Idolater. Idols are called Vanities. The vanities of the Gentiles (i. e. their Idols) cannot give rain. When men Idolize any thing, they will never find that in it, which they hoped for. They will find their Idols vain, and themselves vain in their expectations of great matters from them,