N00341:198
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.
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. When he is brought out of a state of Nature into a state of Grace, he is brought near to God. There is a drawing nigh to God in respect of a man's state, as well as an actual drawing nigh to Him. A Sinner is in a state of Separation from God. Therefore men in a state of sin are described to be a far off. Eph. 2.13. It is said of the Prodigal, that he was a great way off. Luk. 15.20. Sin has made a vast and woeful distance between the blessed God and the souls of men: it hath set their souls at an infinite distance from Him: But by true Conversion they are brought near to Him again. The Prodigal Son, when he came to himself, said, I will arise and go to my father. A repenting sinner goeth to God. Hence Repentance is sometimes called a drawing nigh to Him. Jam. 4.8. Draw nigh to God, & he will draw nigh to you, cleanse your hands you sinners & purify your hearts you double minded. The Apostle having ⟨p. 126⟩showed the evil of several vices, he prescribes one Catholic Remedy for them all, viz. Repentance, which he calleth a Drawing nigh to God, a Cleansing the hands, a Purifying the heart, an Humbling of themselves &c. There must be Union and Reconciliation before there can be Communion. Amos. 3.33. Can two walk together except they be agreed? You and I (says God) are not agreed, and therefore how can we hold Communion? A sinner is an enemy to God, but a Converted sinner is become reconciled to Him. He is made nigh by the blood of Christ, and so hath access unto the •ather. Eph. 2.13.18. Men by being […] nigh, they draw nigh: being by Faith and Repentance brought near to God through Jesus Christ, they ever after draw near to Him. This layeth the Foundation of all that Communion which we have with God. It necessarily implies Union and Reconciliation with Him.
ANSW. 1. When he is brought out of a state of Nature into a state of Grace, he is brought near to God. There is a drawing nigh to God in respect of a man's state, as well as an actual drawing nigh to Him. A Sinner is in a state of Separation from God. Therefore men in a state of sin are described to be a farr off.