N00342:253
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.
Consid. 1. It is hence evident that the work of Redemption and Salvation is put into a sure and able Hand. Into an hand that is able to go thorough with it. He is mighty to save; He is able to save to the uttermost. Thou a sinner hast destroyed thy self to the uttermost, thou hast stabbed thy soul to death, a Thousand times over. How long has thy soul lain dead in Hell! Well but Christ can save thee over and over again, notwithstanding all those Deaths which thy Sins have brought upon thee. Indeed, If the work of Salvation were in any other hand it would miscarry: No mee• ⟨p. 149⟩man or Angel could go through with it: But since it is in the hand of Jesus Christ the Son of GOD, there's no fear of miscarriage. If it were trusted in any other hand, woe would be to thee and to me, and to all the world for ever. But it is not possible it should miscarry in Christ's hand. Act. 2. 24. Now this is a great Comfort. Suppose a man to be miserably in Debt; If a Surety interpose that is able to pay the Debt, that's a Comfort to him: even so is the Case here.
Consid. 2. Jesus Christ is a Willing Mediator, Poor souls are apt to be discouraged, not so much in respect of the power of Christ, which they doubt not of, as from his Will to save them. They are ready to say as the Leper did, Mat. 8. 3. Lord, if thou wilt thou canst make me clean. But know, Christ is willing to reconcile thee to God, if thou art willing to be reconciled to him. Christ by his Messengers, beseecheth Sinners to be reconciled unto God. He began the work of Mediation at first most Willingly: He hath gone through the greatest and heaviest part of his Work with much Willingness. He laid down his life of Himself, there was none took it from him against his will. That work of ⟨p. 150⟩Suffering for Sin, and Satisfying divine Justice is done: and therefore we may be sure, he is willing to attend what remains respecting the work of Intercession. If thou are a comer to him, He is willing to intercede for thee. He is ready to put in a good word for thee in heaven before the Father of Glory. He liveth for that end.