N00318:236
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.
Answ. 1. This expression doth imply, that The Graces of the Spirit are fitly resembled unto Water: So much is intimated by the Metaphor of pouring, which alludeth unto the ⟨p. 171⟩Clouds pouring down rain upon the Earth. Water is of a purifying nature, so the waters of the Spirit, Sanctifying grace doth cleanse and purify the souls of men Ezek. 36.25. I will sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all your Idols will I cleanse you. The guilt of Sin is washed away in the blood of Christ; the filth of Sin is purged by those blessed waters which do Proceed from the spirit of Christ, even converting, sanctifying grace: For the same reason Grace is compared unto fire Mat. 3.11. Metals, Gold & silver are purified unto fire, other things by water: therefore are the blessed operations of the Holy Ghost compared both to the one and to the other. Water is of a Mollifying nature; the Earth that is dry and hard is thereby softened, Psal. 67.10. Thou visitest the earth and wateredst it thou greatly enrichest it with the River of God which is full of water thou makest it soft with showers. So does converting grace soften the dry and hard hearts of the Children of men. That heart which was as hard as stone before, if once a spirit of converting grace be poured thereon, it doth become soft and pliable like water. Again, Water maketh fruitful, showers and floods do so: thus when the Lord doth rain the waters of the spirit or, cause them to flow over the souls of men, they are ⟨p. 172⟩made fruitful in the works of Righteousness Isai. 32.15. Until the spirit be poured upon us from on high, and the Wilderness become a fruitful field. That soul that was a desolate parched barren Wilderness, when once the Spirit from on high is poured upon it, doth become like a fruitful field, Ezek. 34.26, 27. Fruits of Holiness and Righteousness are the effect of being watered by the Spirit of GOD; only the converted man, that hath grace in his soul is indeed fruitful, others are barren and desolate ground. Once more, Water is of an healing nature; So are the waters of the Spirit, sin is the souls sickness, grace is the souls health, the wound received by Original corruption is in some measure healed by converting Grace,