N00318:19
A call from heaven, to the present and succeeding generations or A discourse wherein…
A call from heaven, to the present and succeeding generations or A discourse wherein is showed I. That the children of godly parents are under special advantages and encouragements to seek the Lord. : II. The exceeding danger of apostasy, especially as to those that are the children and posterity of such as have been eminent for God in their generation. : III. That young men ought to remember God their creator. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church in Boston in N. England.A call from heaven, to the present and succeeding generations or A discourse wherein is shewed I. That the children of godly parents are under special advantages and encouragements to seek the Lord. : II. The exceeding danger of apostasie, especially as to those that are the children and posterity of such as have been eminent for God in their generation. : III. That young men ought to remember God their creator. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church in Boston in N. England.
Boston: printed by R.P. i.e for I. Brunning i.e, 1685
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
For the Clea•ing of this Doctrine, 2 Things may be attended. 1. To enquire what is implied in this Seeking the Lord which the Text speaketh of, 2. How it does appear that the Children of godly parents are under peculiar Advantages and Encouragements so to do.
For the Clea•ing of this Doctrine, 2 Things may be attended. 1. To enquire what is implyed in this Seeking the Lord which the Text speaketh of, 2. How it does appear that the Children of godly parents are under peculiar Advantages and Encouragements so to doe.
QUEST. 1. What is Implied in this seeking the Lord?
QUEST. 1. What is Implyed in this seeking the Lord?
ANSW. 1. It doth imply that men by nature are such as have lost God. The sinner hath lost himself, Luk. 15.32. this thy brother was lost, and is found. Yea, and he hath lost God too, He is wandered from his Fathers house. Hence the Apostle said to the Ephesians, they were without God in the world. Yea, it is true concerning children of godly parents as well as others Ephs. 2.3. we (saith the Apostle) were by nature the Children of wrath even as others. We that are Jews and descended of holy Ancestors, we that are now converted, and made Apostles of Christ, by nature were Subjects of the wrath and righteous displeasure of God▪ Not but that some of the Children of godly men have Grace wrought in them whilst in a state of Infancy, as John Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost from his mothers womb, but they do not derive that grace from their parents, and therefore it is not natural, but supernatural, when any of the Children of sinful men are made gracious.