N00318:258
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.
Consider. 3. What encouragement we have to be at this work. The success which such Pray-Prayers ⟨p. 185⟩have had (of which something hath been mentioned) and much more might be spoken) should encourage us. As for some of us, our Fathers & Mothers now in glory, did pray for us when they were in the world, and God heard them: Did they whom we are sprung from pray for us? and hath God heard them? will he not hear us, if we go and pray for our Off-spring, and have we not already seen some answers? If we look into our Families do we not discern that as to some of our Children, the fear of God is put into their hearts? And why should we not look upon that as a first fruits, that all the rest of our Children shall be converted in due Time? Moreover, the consideration of the Covenant, and Promises of God respecting Children, are a great encouragement to pray for them. This is his everlasting Covenant, I will be a God to thee, and to thy seed after thee. Gen. 17.7. This promise is expressed indefinitely, and Therefore doth encourage godly Parents to plead with the Lord for mercy and Grace for ALL their Children: As an Holy man once said, (and it was a great word of faith in him) †If I had twenty Children I would not 'bate God one of them. He hath promised to be a God to my Children indefinitely, and therefore I'll pray for them all, and believe for them all, ⟨p. 186⟩And why should it not be so, since the Lord himself hath said, ALL thy children shall be taught of God, Isai. 54.13. And the Scripture doth abound with particular promises respecting the Conversion and Salvation of the Children of godly Parents. When thou doest that which is good & right in the sight of God, it shall go well with thy Children after thee forever Deut. 12.28. There is special mercy belonging to those that are the seed of the Blessed of the Lord, and to their Offspring with them Isai. 65.23. Yea, Promises of converting grace to be poured upon them, Zech· 10.9. They shall live with their Children, and turn again. The Children of the Lords People shall be turned from the power of Satan unto God: that's implied in those words and not only that the Jews and their Children should be returned from their Captivity in Babylon, whereby this turning again from sin unto God, h. e. that Conversion which we are speaking of, was mysteriously signified as in a Type.