N00526:166
Unum necessarium awakenings for the unregenerate. Or, The nature and necessity of regeneration. Handled…
Unum necessarium awakenings for the unregenerate. Or, The nature and necessity of regeneration. Handled in a discourse designed for the service of any that may be thereby assisted in the grand concern of conversion unto God; but especially the rising generation. : With an addition of some other sermons relating to that important subject. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Five lines from Ezekiel]
Boston printed: printed by B.H. i.e for Duncan Campbell, 1693
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.
This I say, if men would not remain in Doubts, whether they be Written in Heaven. Let them get into some Assembly of Zion, some Church of the Living God. We read in Isa. 4.3. about some, Written among the Living in Jerusalem. If any man, don't count it worth the while, for him to have his Name, Written in the Church-Book, among them that are anew made Alive by the Word of God, how should he be able to see his Name written in Gods Book, among them that are to Live Eternally? I am verily persuaded, That God thus punishes the fault of many a Christian, who Lies from year to year out of Church Fellowship; He punisheth it, by denying them an Assurance of an Interest, in the Book of Life.
This I say, if men would not remain in Doubts, whether they be Written in Heaven. Let them get into some Assembly of Zion, some Church of the Living God. We read in Isa. 4.3. about some, Written among the Living in Jerusalem. If any man, don't count it worth the while, for him to have his Name, Written in the Church-Book, among them that are anew made Alive by the Word of God, how should he be able to see his Name written in Gods Book, among them that are to Live Eternally? I am verily perswaded, That God thus punishes the fault of many a Christian, who Lies from year to year out of Church Fellowship; He punisheth it, by denying them an Assurance of an Interest, in the Book of Life.
VI. He that can see his Name written on the Breast of the Lord, may plainly ⟨p. 127⟩see it also in the Book of the Lord. It was the usage of old, in Exod. 28.19. Aaron shall bear the Names of the Children of Israel, upon his Heart, when he goes in unto the Holy Place, for a Memorial before the Lord continu•ll. Our Lord Jesus Christ, is our High priest, gone for us into the most Holy Place; and He has Engraved upon His Breast, the Names, of all that are to be Saved by His Mediation. Well, Are your Names among them? An Hard Interrogatory! But if you'll Hearken to me a little, you shall see, whether your Names are there or no. I say then, o you bear upon your Hearts, the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ continually? Is it your Frequent, your Daily Study, What shall I do to advance the Name of my dear Lord? And is it like a Dagger at your Hearts, that the Name of your Lord is Honoured so Little, or so much Blasphemed, in the World? Be sure, your Names are upon His Heart, if his Name Lie much upon yours. But, there is another Symptom, which may help you, in the Discovery: 'tis This. Have you, in your own Wishes and Prayers, the Echo's of that Intercession, wherein our Lord carries the Names of His People, before God, that they may be Saved unto the uttermost? I ask you, that you would make a Leisure to look into the