N00341:200
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.
3. When men worship God, they draw nigh to Him. Thus the Chaldee Interpreter paraphraseth upon the Text, It is good for me to come to the worship of God. There is a special ⟨p. 128⟩Presence of God where He is worshipped; especially in His Public Worship. Exod. 20.24. In all places where I record my Name, I will come unto thee. When men come to worship, they are said to gather round about the holy God whom they serve, Psal. 89.7. God is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of His saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him. Hence the Priests of old were said in a peculiar manner to draw nigh unto God, because they were constantly employed in holy Ministrations, Exod. 19.22. — the Priests which come near to the Lord. Their whole employment was a divine Service. Ezek 44.15. They shall come near to me, to minister to me, and they shall stand before me, to offer unto me the fat and the blood, saith the Lord God. When men come to hear the Word, they draw near to God: They approach into His special presence, and must therefore attend with all humility and reverence, because in coming to hear, they present themselves into the presence of the Infinite MAJESTY. Eccles. 5.1. Keep thy foot, i. e. Be reverent in thy behaviour; For among the Eastern Nations, Uncovering the foot did signify the same that uncovering the head does with us, being a Testification of humble and reverend ⟨p. 129⟩respect, when thou goest to the Mouse of God, and be more ready to hear than to offer the sacrifice of fools. Which words show that in hearing the Word, men have to do with God. They come into his House, & approach into his solemn Presence. In Prayer also, men draw near to God. Heb. 10.22. Having such an high p•iest, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. The Apostle's meaning is, let us in sincerity of heart pray unto God, being fully assured that He will accept of us for the sake of Jesus Christ. Prayer is called a visiting of God,