N00896:124
The excellency of a public spirit discoursedThe excellency of a publick spirit discoursed
The excellency of a public spirit discoursed: in a sermon, preached in the audience of the General Assembly of the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, May 27. 1702. Being the day for election of counsellors in that province. / By Increase Mather. ; [Four lines of quotations]The excellency of a publick spirit discoursed: in a sermon, preached in the audience of the General Assembly of the province of the Masachusetts Bay in New England, May 27. 1702. Being the day for election of counsellors in that province. / By Increase Mather. ; [Four lines of quotations]
printed by B. Green for Nicholas Boone, 1702
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.
He seldom c•me to Jerusalem only on the Public Festivals, but spent his time most in Galilee, Preaching the Gospel there: Thus did a great Light appear unto them. Spiritual Light is from Christ. The light of saving knowledge is from him The Scriptures have that light in them. […] was said to Timothy, Thou hast known the Scriptures ⟨p. 71⟩which are able to make wise unto Salvation. Now the Scriptures are the words of Christ, Col. 3.16. They are rays of light from this morning Star. The world was in darkness & ignorance before Christ came into it: all the Nations of the world were in thick darkness excepting one Nation, and that one had as it were but Candle light among them. This I take to be the meaning of the Apostle, 2 Pet. 1.19. There is a sure word of Prophecy to which you do well to take heed, as to a light which shines in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. The Apostle compares that light which the Jewish Church had from the Scriptures of the old Testament, to a Candle that shines in a dark Room, but now (says he) that Christ is come, and the Gospel dispensation takes place, the day is dawned, and the day Star is risen in your hearts. It was foretold that the Times of the Messiah should be Times of very great knowledge, that the light of knowledge should then abound, Isa▪ 11 9 The knowledge of the Lord shall cover the Earth, as the Waters cover the Sea. What abundance of waters be there in the Sea? even so, in the days of the Messiah, an abundance of knowledge shall cover the earth It has b•en so, and there is a day hastening, when it will be unspeakably more so than ever yet has been. As for knowledge concerning future events to befall the Church of God, that light is from the Lord Jesus Christ. He is in a special manner in the ⟨p. 72⟩Text before us represented as the Morning Star, in that he has brought light to the Church concerning what should befall it even to his Second coming: what Changes, what Persecutions, and what Glory after all.