N00897:105
Ichabod. Or, A discourse, showing what cause there is to fear that the glory…Ichabod. Or, A discourse, shewing what cause there is to fear that the glory…
Ichabod. Or, A discourse, showing what cause there is to fear that the glory of the Lord, is departing from New-England. Delivered in two sermons, / by Increase Mather ; [Eight lines of Scripture texts]Ichabod. Or, A discourse, shewing what cause there is to fear that the glory of the Lord, is departing from New-England. Delivered in two sermons, / by Increase Mather ; [Eight lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by Timothy Green, 1702
Title page typeset from the transcription.
ICHABOD, OR, The GLORY Departing FROM New England › Sermon 2 › USE.
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.
2. Let us abide in those Truths respecting the Order of the Gospel, which our Fathers have left with us as a Legacy. Herein is the difference between New-England and all other Plantations. As for other Plantations, they were settled with respect to Trade, or some other worldly interest: But it was not so with New-England. Our Fathers in coming into this part of the world, did not propose to themselves worldly advantages, but the contrary. It was purely on a Religious account that they ventured themselves and Little ones over the vast Ocean into this which was then a wast and howling Wilderness. Although of later Times we have too much changed that which was our Glory, not Seeking •he Kingdom of God in the First place, not making Religion, but Trade and Land, and Earthly accommodations our Interest: And God has remarkably smitten us in that which has been our Idol. In this we are degenerated from the Piety of our Ancestors. But what in Religion was it that induced them to come into this Land? Not the main Articles ⟨p. 87⟩of Faith, for in those they differe• not from other Protestant Churches. Bu• it was regard to the Order of the Gospel that brought them hither. That so they might Erect a Spiritual Kingdom for the Lord Jesus Christ to Reign over. That they might Build Churches which should be Ordered in all Respects according to the mind of Christ declared in the Gospel. On which account a Defection from those Truths will in New-England be a greater Sin and Provocation to God, then in any o•her part of the world. Considering the Glorious Light which has been shining here, there are practices which in other parts of the world would be a great Reformation, but in New-England a Degeneracy. No one needs to Enquire What is the Order of the Gospel! You have it declared in the Platform of Church Discipline, agreed unto by the Elders and Messengers of these Churches above Fifty Years ago. A Platform which is drawn out of the Scriptures of Truth, by men Eminent for Learning and Holiness, and such as were Confessors and great Sufferers for the Testimony which they had born to the Kingdom of ⟨p. 88⟩Christ; and in those respects as likely to have the Truth revealed to them as any men in the world.