N01545:83
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.
1. Grace in the Soul makes Men to be Excellent & Glorious. For Grace is a glorious thing. It is an internal glory. Psal 45.13. The Kings Daughter is all glorious within: viz. in respect of ⟨p. 72⟩the Grace wherewith her Soul is adorned. Grace is called Glory. Believers beholding Christ as represented in the glass of the Gospel are changed from glory to glory, i.e. from one degree of Grace to another, which is their Glory, 2 Cor 3.18. Grace is an ornament to whoever has it. No Gold, nor Jewels, nor costly Apparel does adorn the body, so as Grace does the Soul that is invested with it. Wherefore the Apostle speaks, as 1 Pet. 3.3, 4. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, or of wearing of gold, or of putting on of Apparel; but let it be the hidden man of the heart, even the ornament of a meek & quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Who are the most excellent Persons on the Earth! It is they that are in the way of righteousness. Prov. 12.26. The righteous is more excellent than his Neighbour. Men that excel their Neighbour in Riches, ⟨p. 73⟩or in Worldly greatness or grandeur, are not the more excellent in the sight of Heaven on that account, but they that have godly Souls within them are excellent in the Lords esteem. Psal. 16 3. The Saints on the Earth, the excellent in whom is all my delight. They are so because they are Saints. Their Sanctity makes them excellent. One says well, That a Saint in rags outshines the greatest man on earth, if he is a wicked man. And it is a Celebrated saying of Luther, That a poor Servant doing the meanest work, if they do it from a principle of Grace & in obedience to God, is a more glorious sight than Caesar in all his triumphs. For Holiness makes Men like Angels. What is the difference between the Angels of Heaven, and the Devils of Hell? It is Holiness that makes the difference. Angels are holy, but Devils are spiritual wickednesses. A very holy Man is an Angel Incarnate. One of ⟨p. 74⟩