N01545:115
Two discourses showing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of…Two discourses shewing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of…
Two discourses showing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of the righteous. II. The dignity & duty of aged servants of the Lord. : Also, a preface in which the Congregational discipline of the churches in New-England is vindicated, with the authors dying testimony there-unto. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]Two discourses shewing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of the righteous. II. The dignity & duty of aged servants of the Lord. : Also, a preface in which the Congregational discipline of the churches in New-England is vindicated, with the authors dying testimony there-unto. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]
printed by B. Green for Daniel Henchman, 1716
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.
Then do Believers go to be with Christ, who said to Peter, Whither I go thou canst not follow me now, but thou shalt follow me afterwards, ⟨p. 132⟩Joh. 13.36. He did so, and is with Christ at this day. Well may those Christians be willing to leave the World, who when they are gone hence shall be with Christ. The thought of this made the Apostle Paul not only willing but desirous to be gone out of this World. Phil. 1.23. Having a desire to depart & to be with Christ. They that are with Him behold His Glory, which is the Heaven of Heaven it self. Wherefore He has said, Father I will that they whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory, Joh. 17.24. When the Immortal Souls of Believers are separated from their Bodies, they go to God. The Spirits of just men made perfect, are with God the Judge of all, Heb. 12.23. There they have such divine Communications as are ineffable, and to us in this Mortal State unconceivable. God said of Moses, With him will I speak mouth to mouth & the similitude of the ⟨p. 133⟩Lord shall he behold, Numb. 12.3. Much more does God do so with the Saints in Heaven. If dying Stephen could say, I see the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, most certainly glorified Souls do so. They see God and are therefore blessed. Their happiness consists in that Beatifical Vision, which they shall enjoy in the fullness and perfection of it after the Resurrection. Moreover, Aged Servants of the Lord may well be very willing to dye, considering that decrepit Old Age renders them uncapable of that which is the chief reason why life in this World is desirable, viz. That so we may do Service for Christ and for His People. In this respect there is a difference between Young Men and Old Men. Young Men although' they also should be willing to die if that be the will of God concerning them. Nevertheless, with submission to the Divine Will, Let them Pray for the