N00318:254
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.
1. How needful a thing it is to be much in prayer on this account. Converting grace is of absolute necessity in order to Salvation, and that as to the Children of Godly parents as well as others, for they are born in Sin as David confesseth, Psal. 51.5. I was shapen in Iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me: yet his mother was a precious godly woman; and for ought that doth appear to the contrary, his father was a good man too: wherefore such Children dying in a natural unconverted estate, are liable to Wrath and Death and Curse and Hell Eph. 2.3. We also, even we that are Jews, and not Gentiles only, we that are the Elect of God: yea, we that are chosen to be Apostles and ministers of Christ, whereby nature the Children of wrath even as others. So that except the Lord send forth his Spirit and renew the souls, change the Natures of our poor Children, they are never like to see Heaven. Verily, verily I say unto you except ⟨p. 181⟩a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God, Joh, 3.3. You that are Parents, are you willing that the Children of your own Bowels should be miserable throughout the days of Eternity? that they should lie burning in a fiery Ocean as long as God shall be God? yet so it must be except the Lord in Mercy look upon them so as to pour down of his spirit from on high upon them.
1. How needful a thing it is to be much in prayer on this account. Converting grace is of absolute necessity in order to Salvation, and that as to the Children of Godly parents as well as others, for they are born in Sin as David confesseth, Psal. 51.5. I was shapen in Iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me: yet his mother was a precious godly woman; and for ought that doth appear to the contrary, his father was a good man too: wherefore such Children dying in a natural unconverted estate, are lyable to Wrath and Death and Curse and Hell Eph. 2.3. We also, even we that are Jews, and not Gentiles only, we that are the Elect of God: yea, we that are chosen to be Apostles and ministers of Christ, wereby nature the Children of wrath even as others. So that except the Lord send forth his Spirit and renew the souls, change the Natures of our poor Children, they are never like to see Heaven. Verily, verily I say unto you except