N00297:54
Some important truths concerning conversion, and the improving seasons of grace; as also about…
Some important truths concerning conversion, and the improving seasons of grace; as also about prayer in families, and in secret: delivered in several sermons; / by Increase Mather.
Boston: printed by Samuel Green for John Griffin, 1684
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.
1. Humbleness of mind: A Child hath no ambitions high designs in his heart, only minds lesser matters. Hence David saith, Psal. 131. 1. 2. Lord my heart is not haughty nor mine eyes lofty, neither do I exercise my self in great matters, or in things too high for me: Surely I have behaved my self as a child that is wearied, my soul is as a weaned Child. David was accused, as if he had had ambitious aspirings after Saul's Kingdom; But, saith he, I am as free from those Imputations as a Child that is but a weanling, who hath no such aspirings in his thoughts. Now this humbleness of mind, is a special thing intended in the Text by conversion. Unmortified Pride is a soul-damning sin: yet there is no sin more natural, or more hard to subdue than Pride; its the first that liveth, and the last that dieth. Hence the work of conversion is well expressed in the Text, by the mortification of that one lust. ⟨p. 57⟩And oft in the Scripture, a natural man & a proud man are the same, Mal. 4. 1. and a converted man, and an humble man are also the same, Jam 4. 6. Luk. 18. 14. He that humbles himself shall be exalted. That humbling noteth Conversion.
1. Humbleness of mind: A Child hath no ambitions high designs in his heart, only minds lesser matters. Hence David saith, Psal. 131. 1. 2. Lord my heart is not haughty nor mine eyes lofty, neither do I exercise my self in great matters, or in things too high for me: Surely I have behaved my self as a child that is wearied, my soul is as a weaned Child. David was accused, as if he had had ambitious aspirings after Saul's Kingdom; But, saith he, I am as free from those Imputations as a Child that is but aweanling, who hath no such aspirings in his thoughts. Now this humbleness of mind, is a special thing intended in the Text by conversion. Unmortified Pride is a soul-damning sin: yet there is no sin more natural, or more hard to subdue than Pride; its the first that liveth, and the last that dieth. Hence the work of conversion is well expressed in the Text, by the mortification of that one lust.