N01147:154
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.
PROP. II That the Works of God, especially some of his Works, are very Wonderful! Thy Wondrous Works! Saith the Psalmist here, in the Hebrew it is Nipbleothecs, Mirabilia tua, thy Marvels. The work of Creation is indeed, a wonderful work, 'tis Wonderful, to consider, what variety of Creatures, the great & glorious God hath given a Being to. If we look here, on the Earth, what variety of Creatures are there? That (as some have observed,) among the Beasts of the Field, there are no less, than an Hundred and Fifty Beasts of several kinds, that God hath made; and of the Fowls of the Air, no less than Five Hundred sorts of them; and as for Insects, Creeping and Flying Things. No less than Ten Thousand of them have Naturalists taken notice of. And as for Plants, they are innumerable, some Writers say, more than Eighteen Thousand differing in kind. If we look into the wide Sea, what Innumerable Creatures are there! And if we look up to Heaven among the Stars of God, we Ignorant Mortals do not know what Creatures may be there; so that the Works of Creation, are wondrous Works. But the Works that my Text refers to, are the Works of Divine Providence, these are Wonderful! Psal. 107. 8. And several times in that Psalm it is said, Oh! that men would praise the Lord, for his goodness, and for his Wonderful Works unto the Children of men. The Works of Gods Providence, towards the Children of Men are exceeding Wonderful! In His Preserving and Providing for them. But most of all the Works ⟨p. 119⟩of Providence with respect to the Church of God, as in Psal. 87. 3. Glorious things are spoken, concerning thee, O thou City of God! And God doth Wondrous Things, in order to the Accomplishment of those Glorious Things. The Churches preservation is one of those Wonders. He hath promised that He will uphold His Church in the World; even to the end of it: That the Gates of Hell shall not prevail to destroy His Church on Earth; and His Providence in that respect is Wonderful! The Churches Preservation is a continual Miracle, considering how small they are, and the number of their Enemies, how many & Mighty their Enemies are! And how few the Lords People are if we look all the World over; Yet although' they have so many Enemies, that do hate them, and that would be glad, that there might not be one Godly man upon the Face of the Earth;