N01147:168
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.
Consi. 3. The Works of God, at this Day, declare that His Name is near. That God is about to do some Wonderful Thing, in the Earth. Yea, that our David shall now in a little time have the Kingdom which God has promised him. Is not the Lord making way for it? Is not the Lord shaking Heaven & Earth? Is not the Lord shaking all Nations, at this day? Do not our Eyes behold those very things, which Christ Himself has mentioned as the Signs of His Coming, and Kingdom being at the Door? Is there not Distress of Nations with great perplexities, the Sea, and the Waves Roaring? Is there not a Storm amongst the European Nations, the Sea and Waves thereof Roaring so Loud, that we in America, Three Thousand Miles Distant, are Amazed with the Noise they make? Had such Things as these Happened a Thousand years ago, we could not from thence have argued that the Kingdom of Christ was near: But since they come to pass towards the End of the Fourth Monarchy, under it's last Head, they are a great Argument, that the Lord is Near, His Works declare it. And you must Give me Leave, (tho' I have done it when discoursing on another Scripture) again to put you in mind (once mentioning such Wondrous, and Astonishing Works of God is not enough) let me therefore again remind you of the Dreadful EarthQuakes, ⟨p. 129⟩which these late Times have been attended with. Earth-Quakes, are sometimes Prognostics of State-Quakes, Kingdom-Quakes, Nation-Quakes; Historians speak of an Universal Earth-Quake perceived in all the Parts of the Known World; the like never sampled in any Age which happened, at the Death of Julian the last Heathen Emperor of Rome, after which were great Commotions and Devastations throughout the Empire. Judicious Interpreters have thought that this very Earth-Quake was Predicted Rev. 8. 5. That the Prophecy was fulfilled both in a literal and a Mystical sense, the former being an Indicating Sign of the Latter. Our Lord speaks of Earth-Quakes in diverse Places, as precedaneous to His Coming, Luk. 21. 11. That is, say some before His Providential Coming to destroy the Temple, and Burn the City of Jerusalem, so hath the Prophesy in part, been accomplished. […] speaks of five famous Cities in Asia, that perished by Earth-quakes 6 years before the fatal ruin of Jerusalem.
Consi. 3. The Works of God, at this Day, declare that His Name is near. That God is about to do some Wonderful Thing, in the Earth. Yea, that our David shall now in a little time have the Kingdom which God has promised him. Is not the Lord making way for it? Is not the Lord shaking Heaven & Earth? Is not the Lord shaking all Nations, at this day? Do not our Eyes behold those very things, which Christ Himself has mentioned as the Signs of His Coming, and Kingdom being at the Door? Is there not Distress of Nations with great perplexities, the Sea, and the Waves Roaring? Is there not a Storm amongst the European Nations, the Sea and Waves thereof Roaring so Loud, that we in America, Three Thousand Miles Distant, are Amazed with the Noise they make? Had such Things as these Happened a Thousand years ago, we could not from thence have argued that the Kingdom of Christ was near: But since they come to pass towards the End of the Fourth Monarchy, under it's last Head, they are a great Argument, that the Lord is Near, His Works declare it. And you must Give me Leave, (tho' I have done it when discoursing on another Scripture) again to put you in mind (once mentioning such Wondrous, and Astonishing Works of God is not enough) let me therefore again remind you of the Dreadful EarthQuakes,