N01270:17
A discourse concerning the death of the righteous. Occasioned by the deaths of the…
A discourse concerning the death of the righteous. Occasioned by the deaths of the Honourable, John Foster Esqr. who dyed at Boston in New-England Feb. 9th. 1710,11. And his pious consort, Mrs. Abigail Foster. Who departed soon after him, viz. on the 5th. of March. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines from Revelation]
Boston: printed by B. Green, 1711
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. In a readiness to forgive injuries and offences. The Divine Mercy is seen in that He is a Sin-pardoning God. He is the Lord Merciful and Gracious, abundant ⟨p. 4⟩in Goodness, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. That's His Name, that's His Nature, Exod. 34.6, 7. There is in Righteous Men the like disposition which discovers them to be the Children of God. The Scripture says, Be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christs sake has forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear Children, Eph. 5.1. Nor is there any one thing that makes a clearer and greater discovery of a Mans Spiritual State, whether he is in a justified or an unjustified Estate, than this which I am now speaking of. An implacable revengeful Spirit is an infallible Character of an Unrighteous man. But when a Christian considers with himself, God has forgiven me all the wrongs that I have done to Him, therefore will I forgive those who have been most injurious to me, this argues a Justified, a Righteous Man. Wherefore Christ has said, If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive […]. Math 6. 14, 15.
1. In a readiness to forgive injuries and offences. The Divine Mercy is seen in that He is a Sin-pardoning God. He is the Lord Merciful and Gracious, abundant ⟨p. 4⟩in Goodness, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin. That's His Name, that's His Nature, Exod. 34.6, 7. There is in Righteous Men the like disposition which discovers them to be the Children of God. The Scripture says, Be ye kind one to another, tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christs sake has forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear Children, Eph. 5.1. Nor is there any one thing that makes a clearer and greater discovery of a Mans Spiritual State, whether he is in a justifyed or an unjustifyed Estate, than this which I am now speaking of. An implacable revengful Spirit is an infallible Character of an Unrighteous man. But when a Christian considers with himself, God has forgiven me all the wrongs that I have done to Him, therefore will I forgive those who have been most injurious to me, this argues a Justifyed, a Righteous Man. Wherefore Christ has said, If you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive . Math 6. 14, 15.