N01545:96
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.
When 'tis said, The hoary head is a Crown of glory, that implies that there is the Mercy and Favour of God in it. The Lord promised Abraham that he should be Buried in a good Old Age, ⟨p. 96⟩Gen. 15.15. If righteous Men live to Old Age, it is a Mercy to the World, especially if they are in a Public Station: for many fare the better for them. They do a great deal of good in the World. If their Intellectual Abilities hold they do a great deal of good by their Wisdom and Counsel which the Authority of their Age makes to be the more regarded. So was aged Jehojada a blessing to the whole Land in his Old Age, since by his Wisdom he kept the People from a great Apostasy all his days, which as soon as ever that Old Minister of God was laid in his Grave they were subject unto, 2 Chron. 24.17, 18. So by their holy Example, and by their Prayers to God they are blessings to the Places where they live; for thereby they keep off Judgments, as Moses & Samuel, and the Prophet Amos did more than once; and obtain Mercies, as Elijah did, when there was a sore drought, ⟨p. 97⟩•he Prayed earnestly and the Heavens gave rain, Jam. 5.18. And if a Man that is in the way of righteousness shall live to Old Age, it will be a Mercy to himself as well as others. For that (as before was intimated) it is to be hoped that in many years he will gain a large stock of Grace, so as to become strong in the Grace which is in Christ Jesus. Old Abraham was strong in the Faith. So was Old Jacob: He had a strong Faith not only for himself, but for his Posterity; for his Children & Children's Children that God would bless them after he was gone out of the World. He that is in the way of righteousness, if he continues growing in Grace all his days, the longer •he lives, and the more good he does, the greater will his happiness be in the Eternal World, as also before was intimated.
When 'tis said, The hoary head is a Crown of glory, that implies that there is the Mercy and Favour of God in it. The Lord promised Abraham that he should be Buried in a good Old Age,