N01147:150
A dissertation, wherein the strange doctrine lately published in a sermon, the tendency of…
A dissertation, wherein the strange doctrine lately published in a sermon, the tendency of which, is, to encourage unsanctified persons (while such) to approach the holy table of the Lord, is examined and confuted. With an appendix, showing what Scripture ground there is to hope, that within a very few years there will be a glorious reformation of the church throughout the world. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]A dissertation, wherein the strange doctrine lately published in a sermon, the tendency of which, is, to encourage unsanctified persons (while such) to approach the holy table of the Lord, is examined and confuted. With an appendix, shewing what Scripture ground there is to hope, that within a very few years there will be a glorious reformation of the church throughout the world. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Benj. Eliot, 1708
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.
1. From the Name, and glorious Attributes of the Blessed God. When God doth fulfil His Promises He doth make it known that He is Jehovah, and in as much as His Name is Jehovah, it is Impossible that any Word, that He hath spoken should fail as to the Accomplishment of it. The Lord said, that He was not known unto Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, by His Name Jehovah. Exod. 6, 3 but by that Name, He would then be known unto the Children of Israel. The meaning is, not that Abraham was Ignorant of that Glorious Name as a Title peculiarly belonging to the True God, for he called the place where a Lamb was provided for a Sacrifice instead of Isaac, by the Name of Jehovah Jir•h, therefore the meaning is, That God was not known to the Fathers, by Fulfilling the Promises He had made, to the Patriarchs, & which were to be performed to their Children after them, but to Israel, He would make known, that He was Jehovah, by giving a Being, and Actual Existence to those Promises. God is a God of Infinite Power, & a God that keepeth Truth for ever. When Men fail in the Performing of what they have Promised, the reason is because they want Truth or Power to do, as they have said they would do. Men that have no truth in them will promise what they never intended to do, like the Devil who promised the Lord Jesus Christ, that if He would Worship him, he would give Him all the Kingdoms in the World to be his. The Devil never intended to do any such thing, nor was it in his Power to do it; but now as to the blessed God, It is Impossible that He should Lye, He is God that cannot Lye, Rom. 3. 4. Let God be True, and every Man a Liar, i. e. Every ⟨p. 115⟩Man that doth call the Truth of God into Question, let that man be called a Liar, for so he is and a Blasphemer too. So then, that Attribute of Divine Truth proves this. And as for the Power of God, that is Infinite, He is the Omnipotent God, He is (as some have observed) above Seventy Times, in the Scripture styled the Almighty, he has Power to do, whatever He will do, Job 42. 2. I know that Thou canst do every Thing, and that no Thought can be withheld from the• God can do Things that are above the Power of Nature when he pleaseth; and will do so, rather than […] Word, His Promise shall not be made good.