N00395:52
Work upon the ark. Meditations upon the ark as a type of the church
Work upon the ark. Meditations upon the ark as a type of the church; delivered in a sermon at Boston, and now dedicated unto the service of all, but especially of those whose concerns lye in ships. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Four lines of quotations]
Boston: printed by Samuel Green, 1689
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.
OBSERVATION. IV.
Many persons instrumental about Building the Church of God, are yet Lost and Damned for ever. There were many Carpenters no doubt, that wrought with Noah, upon the Ark, which yet were Drowned among those doleful Creatures, whose Foundation was overflown with a Flood. Even so, there are multitudes of persons, whose Talents and Labours are Employed about Church Work, all their Days; and yet these very Sersons go down to the congregation of them that Roar under the Waters for ever. It is true, that the Ministry of a wicked Clergy-Man, is not so frequently and so certainly blessed by God, as the Ministry of a serious, Gracious, Heavenly Man, that can Pray as well as Preach. Usually they are the Wise, the Good, who Turn many to Righteousness. Nevertheless God may improve the Ministry of a Judas and a Demas, for the advantage of His Church. 'Tis not the Instrument, but the Appointment, that gives Efficacy to the Ordinance. We are told in 1 Cor· 9.27. A man that has Preached to others, may himself be cast away.
Many persons instrumental about Building the Church of God, are yet Lost and Damned for ever. There were many Carpenters no doubt, that wrought with Noah, upon the Ark, which yet were Drown'd among those doleful Creatures, whose Foundation was overflown with a Flood. Even so, there are multitudes of persons, whose Talents and Labours are Employ'd about Church Work, all their Days; and yet these very Sersons go down to the congregation of them that Roar under the Waters for ever. It is true, that the Ministry of a wicked Clergy-Man, is not so frequently and so certainly blessed by God, as the Ministry of a serious, Gracious, Heavenly Man, that can Pray as well as Preach. Usually they are the Wise, the Good, who Turn many to Righteousness. Nevertheless God may improve the Ministry of a Judas and a Demas, for the advantage of His Church. 'Tis not the Instrument, but the Appointment, that gives Efficacy to the Ordinance. We are told in 1 Cor· 9.27. A man that has Preached to others, may himself be cast away.