N00766:108
The everlasting Gospel. The Gospel of justification by the righteousness of God; as 'tis…
The everlasting Gospel. The Gospel of justification by the righteousness of God; as 'tis held and preached in the churches of New-England: expressed in a brief discourse on that important article; made at Boston in the year, 1699. / By Cotton Mather. ; And, asserted with the attestations, of several Reverend and eminent persons, now most considerable in those churches.The everlasting Gospel. The Gospel of justification by the righteousness of God; as 'tis held and preach'd in the churches of New-England: expressed in a brief discourse on that important article; made at Boston in the year, 1699. / By Cotton Mather. ; And, asserted with the attestations, of several Reverend and eminent persons, now most considerable in those churches.
Boston: printed by B. Green for Nicholas Buttolph, 1700
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.
It is to be deplored, even with Tears of Blood, that the most of men, yea, of those men, who sit under the Gospel, which Reveals the Righteousness of God from Faith to Faith, do miserably fall short of this Righteousness. But How, but Why, do they fall short of it? We have a full Account given of it, in Rom. 10.3. Going about to Establish their own Righteousness, they have not submitted unto the Righteousness ⟨p. 28⟩of God. Wherefore it is as needful, as natural, an Exhortation, that is now to be given you.
Beware, O our Evangelised People, Beware, l•st by Endeavouring to Establish your own Righteousness, you loose the Righteousness of God, which hath been Revealed in the Gospel. Beware, lest you loose the Everlasting Righteousness, which the Lord Jesus Christ, hath brought in for His Chosen people, and with that Righteousness, Everlasting Happiness.
You are frequently and constantly Warned of it, That the End of all Ungodly men, will be Destruction. But it is, of infinite Consequence, that you take a further Warning from God; Even This, That Self Righteous men are Ungodly men. Souls, Beware lest you fall into a Lamentable Snare; Be able to say, Destruction from God is a Terror to me. We are Jealous, Lest when you are Awakened by the Holy Spirit of God unto some sense of your own Sinfulness, the Evil Spirit lay you asleep again, by your own Righteousness, and Smite into your Temples the deadly Nails that shall fasten you down to the floor of the Eternal Prison. What Satan cannot accomplish as a Profane Devil, he will endeavour as an Angel of Light: And he will Secure to himself the Possession of an House, by finding it, Empty, Swept, and Garnished.