N00318:22
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.
2. Seeking the Lord doth imply a sense of this lost condition. Sense of want puts men upon seeking. The Prodigal was hunger-bitten before he would seek to be reconciled to his Father, when he saw that he was fain to live upon husks, and that there was no way but he ⟨p. 4⟩must perish with hunger, except he sought unto his Father for a supply, he would do so. If a man hath lost a thing, except he know that he hath lost it, he will not seek after it. Hence in the Parable concerning the lost piece of silver, it is said, what woman if she lose a piece of silver, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it, Luk. 15.8. So that there must be sense of Loss before there will be seeking or finding. Nor will men seek the Lord except they be by his Spirit made sensible, that they have lost his favour, and are through sin and the Fall become miserable.
2. Seeking the Lord doth imply a sense of this lost condition. Sense of want puts men upon seeking. The Prodigal was hunger-bitten before he would seek to be reconciled to his Father, when he saw that he was fain to live upon husks, and that there was no way but he ⟨p. 4⟩must perish with hunger, except he sought unto his Father for a supply, he would do so. If a man hath lost a thing, except he know that he hath lost it, he will not seek after it. Hence in the Parable concerning the lost peice of silver, it is said, what woman if she lose a peice of silver, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till shee find it, Luk. 15.8. So that there must be sense of Loss before there will be seeking or finding. Nor will men seek the Lord except they be by his Spirit made sensible, that they have lost his favour, and are through sin and the Fall become miserable.