N01488:108
Several sermons wherein is showed, I. That Jesus Christ is a mighty Saviour. II.…Several sermons wherein is shewed, I. That Jesus Christ is a mighty Saviour. II.…
Several sermons wherein is showed, I. That Jesus Christ is a mighty Saviour. II. That God converts his elect some at one age, and some at another, commonly before old age. III. That when godly men dye, angels carry their souls to another and a better world. : With a preface in which there is a brief and true character of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Bridge a lately deceased pastor in one of the churches in Boston. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]Several sermons wherein is shewed, I. That Jesus Christ is a mighty Saviour. II. That God converts his elect some at one age, and some at another, commonly before old age. III. That when godly men dye, angels carry their souls to another and a better world. : With a preface in which there is a brief and true character of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Bridge a lately deceased pastor in one of the churches in Boston. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Benjamin Eliot, 1715
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.
THESE words were spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Ninth Verse of this Chapter He Exhorts to Charity and Liberality. The Covetous Pharisees received his Doctrine. with the greatest contempt & scorn. Whereupon he entertained his Hearers with an awful Parable concerning a Rich Man, and a Godly Poor Man, declaring the State of each of them in another World, after this Life is ⟨p. 94⟩Ended. The rich Man is not named, but he is described to be one that was clothed in Purple, and fared sumptuously every day, verse 19. He showed more kindness to his dogs, than to the Poor Man, and the dogs were more friendly to him, than was their Matter. The Poor Man has the Name of Lazarus given to him, which is a Contract from Eleazer. Hence is that Expression common among us, a poor Lazar. This Poor and Pious Eleazer as described. (1.) From his miserable condition in this life: He was as poor as a beggar, and besides that afflicted with sore bodily diseases. (2.) He is described from his happiness after this life. It is said, that when he dyed Angels carried him into Abraham's bosom. When 'tis said Angels carried him, the meaning is that they carried his Soul. By a figure called Synecdoche. […] the whole is put for a part. T• • gels did not carry his Body, […] Soul. Christ spake to the […] specially to the Pharisee […] • •ed that the […] ⟨p. 95⟩with their Bodies. It is a celebrated saying among their Doctors, That when Righteous Men die Angels carry their Souls to Paradise, and into Eden. They tell •s that when a famous Rabbi dyed, another said of him, He is this day in Abraham's bosom. The happiness of Heaven is set forth by that of a joyful Feast. Among the Jews they sat at their Tables in a discumbent posture. He that was the most beloved guest, •aid his head in the bosom of the Master of the Feast: which gives light to that Scripture: Joh. 13.23. There was leaning on Jesus bosom, one of his Disciples whom Jesus Loved. Abraham •s mentioned rather than any other Saint, because he was the Father of he Faithful, the Promise was made to him, and he was Eminent for his Hospitality, contrary to the Covetous rich Miser whom the Parable speaks of. Moreover, Abraham had a faithful Servant whose Name was Eleazer, or Lazarus: That Godly Servant does now Feast with his Master Abraham after a celestial manner in another