N00341:158
The greatest sinners exhorted and encouraged to come to Christ, and that now without…
The greatest sinners exhorted and encouraged to come to Christ, and that now without delaying. Also, the exceeding danger of men's deferring their repentance. : Together with a discourse about the day of judgement. And on several other subjects. / By Increase Mather teacher of a church at Boston in N. England. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]
printed by R.P. for Joseph Brunning i.e, 1686
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Fruitful Christians glorify God.Fruitful Christians glorifie God.
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. As the Habit of grace, so all the Actions thereof are fruit. All Graces motions and operations, whether internal in the heart, or externally manifested, are Fruit. Where there is true grace, it will surely discover it self. Grace is compared to Life in the Scripture, Eph. 2.9. You hath be quickened. Now Life discovers it self, at leastwise by breathings; So does grace in the soul always discover it self by breathing after Christ, and after Holiness. Now all discoveries of a gracious frame of heart, are the Fruit here spoken of. Therefore
2. As the Habit of grace, so all the Actions thereof are fruit. All Graces motions and operations, whether internal in the heart, or externally manifested, are Fruit. Where there is true grace, it will surely discover it self. Grace is compared to Life in the Scripture, Eph. 2.9. You hath be quickened. Now Life discovers it self, at leastwise by breathings; So does grace in the soul alwaies discover it self by breathing after Christ, and after Holiness. Now all discoveries of a gracious frame of heart, are the Fruit here spoken of. Therefore
3. Holy and gracious Thoughts are fruit. All gracious workings in the minds of true believers on Christ ere Fruit. A good Desire ⟨p. 99⟩is so. A godly desire and purpose in the heart is so. When a man is thinking and contriving with himself how he may promote the Glory of God and Good of men, those thoughts are fruit. As David when he was thinking to build an House for the Name of God, that godly intention was pleasant fruit ▪ And the Apostle Paul had many gracious purposes and designs working in his heart, which Timothy ▪ who was intimate with him knew much of.