N00318:264
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. Let Parents be sure that they be converted themselves. Deut. 30.6. I will circumcise thy heart and the heart of thy Seed. If our own hearts be circumcised, we may pray in faith that the Lord will circumcise the hearts of our Children otherwise we cannot do it. Parents that have not Grace themselves, are not fit to pray for Grace to be poured on their Children, nor indeed can they do it; for the Spirit of Supplication is the Spirit of grace, Zech. 12.10. nor can they believe for them. An Hypocrite, or unconverted man cannot act faith for his Child's soul, who never yet did believe for his own soul. Nor doth this promise in the Text belong to other than godly Parents, Psal. 128.4. Behold that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the Lord.
2. Parents be Exemplary. Walk before God in your houses with a perfect heart. Let us be careful in our Families to walk so that our Children may see by our Examples how they ⟨p. 192⟩ought to walk and please God: that if they will but be and do like to their Parents they shall certainly be blessed for ever. There are many of the Elect of God, that the special means of their Conversion hath been the holy example of their Parents. Many a Chosen vessel, that when he hath beheld his Fathers love to Christ, and Faithfulness to the Interest of God; Zeal, Patience, Holiness, that hath been a special means of Conviction and Conversion. You know what Elijah said to Elisha *when he desired that he might have (h. e. comparatively to what the rest of the sons of the Prophets had) a double portion of Elijah's Spirit, he said, Thou hast asked an hard thing, nevertheless if thou see me when I am taken from thee it shall be so unto thee, but if not, it shall not be so