N01147:174
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.
2. Remember, That a little before the Glorious Times come, there must be Great Troubles in the World. Just before the Death of Saul, whereby way was made for David to posses the Kingdom, he was in the greatest Distress, that ever in all his Life; namely, when ⟨p. 133⟩Ziklag was burnt, and his own friends begun to speak of Stoning him. A little before break of Day, is the Darkest time of all the Night. That's one of the Mysteries of Providence. The Lord causeth the Light to shine out of the Greatest Darkness. What a miserable, what a forlorn, and hopeless, Estate, were the Children of Israel in, when the Time of their Deliverance out of Egypt, was near. The Christian Church was never in more Imminent Danger of an utter Extirpation, than in the Reign of the Emperor Diocletian, the most Cruel Persecutor that ever was, who Resolved to Extirpate Christianity out of the World, and thought he had done so, Erecting Pillars with that Inscription, Deleta Superstition Christiana: Not unlike the French Diocletian's Boasting, that he has Extirpated the Protestant Heresy out of his Dominions: But these things were done by that Emperor, when the Churches Glorious Deliverance and Advancement under Constantine was very near. When the Seventh Day came, and the Trumpet Sounded, the walls of Jericho fell even with the Ground. In like sort, when the Seventh Trumpet Sounds, Mystical Babylon, typified by Jericho utterly ceaseth. But before that, towards the end of the Sixth Trumpet, there is a sad Slaughter of the Witnesses. There are that now make it a Question, Is the Last Slaughter of the Witnesses past, or future? I will freely Declare my own thoughts to you concerning it. I hope there will be no more a General Slaughter of them. It seems to me, that the Lord by wondrous works, has in diverse Lands, as a first Fruits begun their Resurrection. Is not a Spirit of Life from God, wondrously entered into the Vaudois of late? Yea, and into those Protestants in Great Britain, who have witnessed against the Remainders of Popery; and this after they had been under a Civil Death, from the Sixth ⟨p. 134⟩Month, in the Year One thousand Six hundred and Eighty three, to the First Month, in the Year One Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty Seven; which is three Prophetical Days, and an Half. Liberty (which is Life) was then Restored, and is since Confirmed to them;