N01545:85
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.
2. Aged Servants of the Lord have had a long acquaintance & communion with God. They are to be honoured, since God has vouchsafed to honour them with His Presence, and that there have been Mutual Communication between them for a long time. 1 Joh. 1.3. Truly our Fellowship is with ⟨p. 76⟩the Father & with his Son Jesus Christ. They have had the honour of being admitted into the Presence of the King of Glory, and that every day, and for many Years. God has bid them come to Him with their requests, and that they should open their hearts & speak freely to Him; and this of matters which they cannot speak to any one else of, and this have they done many a time & often. Psal. 142.2, 3. I poured out my complaint before him, I showed before him my trouble, when my spirit was overwhelmed within me. God puts honour on His Servants when He will permit them to be thus free with Him. They have come to God in the Name of Christ many a time, and He has through Christ come to them. He said to His People, I will meet with them & I will commune with them from above the Mercy-seat, Exod. 25.20. Christ is the Mercy-seat, and it is a blessed communion which through Him, Believers ⟨p. 77⟩have with God. And this is what Christ has promised to such as abide in the way of righteousness. Joh. 14.23 If a man love me he will keep my Commandments, & my Father will love him, & we will come unto him, & make our abode with him. It is among Men counted an honour to have a free conversation with an Earthly King, but the Servants of God can say, our Conversation is in Heaven, Phil. 3.20. And when there has been for many years an holy blessed conversation between the Lord and them, a blessed Familiarity proceeds from thence. It has been related concerning an Eminent Christian, that when he was on his death bed he could say to those about him, If the walls of this Chamber could speak they would say that I have met with God here many a time, & that He has been Familiar with my Soul. When Moses had been conversing with God forty days, his face did shine.