N00255:61
A sermon wherein is showed that the church of God is sometimes a subject…A sermon wherein is shewed that the church of God is sometimes a subject…
A sermon wherein is showed that the church of God is sometimes a subject of great persecution; preached on a public fast at Boston in New-England: occasioned by the tidings of a great persecution raised against the Protestants in France. / By Increase Mather, teacher to a church of Christ. ; [Eight lines of quotations]A sermon wherein is shewed that the church of God is sometimes a subject of great persecution; preached on a publick fast at Boston in New-England: occasioned by the tidings of a great persecution raised against the Protestants in France. / By Increase Mather, teacher to a church of Christ. ; [Eight lines of quotations]
printed for 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 Lord in those persecutions which come upon his people, aims At the Ruin of His, & the Churches Enemies; that way may be made for that. Persecutors must prevail, ⟨p. 16⟩that they may be fit for the Destruction which the Lord has reserved them for. If we hear of great persecutions raging against the Church of God, 'tis a sign, and we may conclude that there is great Destruction, and Desolation on the Enemies of God's people, near at hand. Consider the Instance of Pharaoh: and see Phil. 1. 28. unto this purpose. It is an evident token that destruction from God is hastening upon those that Trouble his people. The sin of persecution has always been a Fatal, Ruining sin to them that have bin guilty of it. The four great Monarchies, to their cost, have found it so. Persecution has been the Ruin of the Babylonian; the Ruin of the Persian; and the Ruin of the Grecian Monarchy. This was the Ruin of Rome Heathen: Rev. 6. 9. 1& this will be the Ruin of Rome-Antichristian also: Rev. 18. 24. Yea, tis seldom seen that the Lord bears long with this Iniquity: And notorious persecutors seldom escape remarkable strokes of the Judging-Hand of God upon them in this world: besides the Vengeance of Eternal Fire, in the world to come.
4. The Lord in those persecutions which come upon his people, aymes At the Ruine of His, & the Churches Enemies; that way may be made for that. Persecutors must prevail, ⟨p. 16⟩that they may be fit for the Destruction which the Lord has reserved them for. If we hear of great persecutions raging against the Church of God, 'tis a sign, and we may conclude that there is great Destruction, and Desolation on the Enemies of God's people, near at hand. Consider the Instance of Pharaoh: and see Phil. 1. 28. unto this purpose. It is an evident token that destruction from God is hastening upon those that Trouble his people. The sin of persecution has alwayes been a Fatal, Ruining sin to them that have bin guilty of it. The four great Monarchyes, to their cost, have found it so. Persecution has been the Ruine of the Babylonian; the Ruine of the Persian; and the Ruine of the Grecian Monarchy. This was the Ruine of Rome Heathen: