N00318:223
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. We have the Blessing promised in the 3d. verse: And it is first expressed, then explained. It is expressed in the former part of the verse I will pour water upon the thirsty, (so the verse should be read) and floods upon the dry ground: alluding partly unto plentiful showers, whereby the thirsty earth is made fruitful; and partly unto Rivers, such as Nilus in Egypt, the floods and seasonable overflowings whereof do enrich the Earth. The Promise is explained in the latter part of the verse, (the words that are before us to insist on) I will pour out my spirit and my blessing. h. e. that wonderful blessing of the Spirit: They are spiritual waters which are here spoken of; no other •owers than those that come down from ⟨p. 167⟩the third & highest Heaven. And this promise is further illustrated from the blessed Extent of it, in that not only Parents but Children are concerned therein: On thy Seed, i. e. thy Children, and on thine Off-spring i. e. Posterity as some render the word Hebr. [I will pour my blessing upon thy young sprigs] The Children of Gods Servants, that spring from them, and must succeed when they are dead and gone out of the world, are intended by this expression.
2. We have the Blessing promised in the 3d. verse: And it is first expressed, then explained. It is expressed in the former part of the verse I will pour water upon the thirsty, (so the verse should be read) and flouds upon the dry ground: alluding partly unto plentiful showers, whereby the thirsty earth is made fruitful; and partly unto Rivers, such as Nilus in Egypt, the floods and seasonable overflowings whereof do enrich the Earth. The Promise is explained in the latter part of the verse, (the words that are before us to insist on) I will pour out my spirit and my blessing. h. e. that wonderful blessing of the Spirit: They are spiritual waters which are here spoken of; no other •owers than those that come down from ⟨p. 167⟩the third & highest Heaven. And this promise is further illustrated from the blessed Extent of it, in that not only Parents but Children are concerned therein: On thy Seed, i. e. thy Children, and on thine Off-spring i. e. Posterity as some render the word Hebr. [I will pour my blessing upon thy young spriggs] The Children of Gods Servants, that spring from them, and must succeed when they are dead and gone out of the world, are intended by this expression.