N01545:87
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.
So have they been a means to keep off ⟨p. 81⟩destroying Judgments from the places where they have lived. The Jews have a saying, Sinc stationibus non staret Mundus, If it were not for Prayer the World would not stand. And whose Prayers? The Prayers of such as walk in the way of righteousness. The righteous is an everlasting foundation. It is eminently true concerning such as have been a long time in that way. Men will regard the Requests of an Old Friend, or of an Old faithful Servant. So will God regard the Prayers of His Old Friends that have been serving him faithfully for these many years. Surely they will obtain no little good for those they Pray very much for. Now a great respect is due to such as have been useful and serviceable. The more serviceable the more honourable. For Men in being beneficial to many resemble the blessed God. How Extensive is His goodness who is good to all, and His ⟨p. 82⟩tender Mercies over all His works. The more universally beneficial we are, the more do we approve our selves the Children of our Father which is in Heaven, Matt. 5.45. And Men that do a great deal of good in the World are in that respect like Christ. How many did He do good unto both as to Body and Soul? Act. 10.38. He went about doing good & healing all that were oppressed of the Devil. The whole World has fared the better for Him, since He is the Light of the World. God has made the Sun to be a Mercy to the World. Christ the Sun of Righteousness has been an infinitely greater Mercy. Man-kind has fared the better for His Mediation. That tree had been cut down, if the Son of God had not said, spare it. But especially the Elect of God in all Ages and Places of the World have been blessed by Him On which account it was said to Abraham, in thy Seed, by which Christ is intended ⟨p. 83⟩all the Nations of the Earth shall be blessed, Gen. 22.18. Now Aged Christians having had longer opportunities of doing good in the World than others have had, if they have done accordingly, they do in that respect the more resemble God and Christ, & then their Old Age becomes a Crown of glory to them. Hence,