N00342:104
The mystery of Christ opened and applied. In several sermons, concerning the person, office,…The mystery of Christ opened and applyed. In several sermons, concerning the person, office,…
The mystery of Christ opened and applied. In several sermons, concerning the person, office, and glory of Jesus Christ. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in N. England. ; [Twelve lines of quotations]The mystery of Christ opened and applyed. In several sermons, concerning the person, office, and glory of Jesus Christ. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in N. England. ; [Twelve lines of quotations]
Boston: printed by Richard Pierce for Joseph Browning, 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.
2. Let us not content our selves with a mere notional Belief about this matter; but see that our Faith be sincere and cordial. Let us see that this Truth be not only in our heads but in our hearts also. If men have only a notional Belief concerning this, that's no more than what the Devils have. Jam. 2. 19. Thou believest that there is one God, thou dost well, the Devils also believe and tremble. So do the Devils believe, that JESUS is the SON of GOD, […] and tremble at the Apprehension of His Infinite MAJESTY. A whole Legion of Devils fell a roaring at the presence of the Lord Jesus, Crying, Jesus, thou Son of God, art thou come to torment us before the time? Mat. 8. 29. ⟨p. 48⟩But hearty Belief of, and Closure with this Truth is another thing. Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, unto him that professed, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God Act. 8. 37. That's necessary in order to Salvation: Rom. 10. 18. With the heart man believeth unto Righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto SALVATION. When a man doth so believe this Truth, as that he could gladly lay down his life for Confessing and Bearing witness to it, that's hearty Believing. As in the primitive […] it was as much as a man's Life was worth to Confess this Truth. The Infidel Jews and Heathen of those days would be ready to kill any one that should profess such a Belief. In which respect the Apostle might well say as the 1. Joh. 4. 15. Whosoever confesseth that Jesus Christ is the SON of God, God is in him, and he in God. This is to be understood, not of a mere notional but of a cordial, yea and a Practical Believing.
2. Let us not content our selves with a meer notional Belief about this matter; but see that our Faith be sincere and cordial. Let us see that this Truth be not only in our heads but in our hearts also. If men have only a notional Belief concerning this, that's no more than what the Devils have.