N00946:24
Soul-saving Gospel truths. Delivered in several sermons, wherein is showedSoul-saving Gospel truths. Delivered in several sermons, wherein is shewed
Soul-saving Gospel truths. Delivered in several sermons, wherein is showed: I. The unreasonableness of those excuses which men make for their delaying to come to the Lord Jesus for salvation. II. That for men to despair of the forgiveness of their sins because they have been great, is a great evil. III. That every man in the world is going into eternity. / By Increase Mather. ; [Eight lines of Scripture texts]Soul-saving Gospel truths. Delivered in several sermons, wherein is shewed: I. The unreasonableness of those excuses which men make for their delaying to come to the Lord Jesus for salvation. II. That for men to despair of the forgiveness of their sins because they have been great, is a great evil. III. That every man in the world is going into eternity. / By Increase Mather. ; [Eight lines of Scripture texts]
Boston : Sold by Eleazer Phillips., 1703
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.
Now for the opening of this Parable, By the Great Supper, Christ and […] ▪ Benefits are intended: which are fitly called a Great Supper, no• only in respect of the Multitude of persons invited thereto, but in respect of the Greatness, the Excellen•• of the Matter of the Fea•t▪ Christ ⟨p. 12⟩and Eternal Life: and in respect of the Continuance thereof. We read Esther 1. 4. that Ahasuerus the Emperor of Persia, made a Feast for his Nobles and Princes, which continued for the space of an Hundred and Fourscore Days. But this Great Supper has infinite Multitudes invited to it; Thousands yea Millions have been called to it. And the Feast will continue not for an hundred & fourscore Days, nor an hundred & fourscore Years, but through out the never ending Ages of Eternity. Therefore it may well be called a Great Supper. And as for the Person that did make this Feast, and so call unto it, we are to understand God Himself: Therefore in the Parable, Mat. 22. 2. 'tis said That a certain King did it, viz. the God and King of Heaven, the King Eternal. And as for the Servants that are said to […] sent to call •nto this Great Sup•er, the Ministers of the Lord Jesus ⟨p. 13⟩Christ are thereby meant. As for the Persons invited to this Great Supper, both Jews and Gentiles are intended, & not only the great ones but the meaner fort among them. Therefore it is said, Go-into the Streets of the City, and call them in, and it is said, Go into the High-ways and compel them to come in: By which the calling of the Gentiles might be signified. The Jews had the first offer of the Gospel made to them. Christ was Preached unto them before unto any other in the world; but few of them would accept of him, few of them did believe, but with unreasonable Excuses did put off their coming to him.