N01667:13
Practical truths, plainly delivered
Practical truths, plainly delivered: wherein is showed, I. That true believers on Jesus Christ, shall as certainly enjoy everlasting life in heaven, as if they were there already. II. That there is a blessed marriage between Jesus Christ the son of God, & the true believer. III. That men are infinitely concerned, not only to hear the voice of Christ, but that they do it, to day. IV. The work of the ministry, described, in an ordination sermon. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]Practical truths, plainly delivered: wherein is shewed, I. That true believers on Jesus Christ, shall as certainly enjoy everlasting life in heaven, as if they were there already. II. That there is a blessed marriage between Jesus Christ the son of God, & the true believer. III. That men are infinitely concerned, not only to hear the voice of Christ, but that they do it, to day. IV. The work of the ministry, described, in an ordination sermon. / By Increase Mather, D.D. ; [Seven lines of Scripture texts]
printed by B. Green for Daniel Henchman, 1718
Sermon 1: SERMON, I. True Believers on Jesus Christ shall have Everlasting Life in Heaven.
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.
IN the beginning of this Chapter, we have the History of a Miracle wrought by our Lord Jesus Christ, in feeding five thousand Men with only five loaves and two small fishes. The Jews were much affected with the Miracle, so as that they designed to take him by force and make him a King. Whereupon he withdrew from them, and privately crossed the Sea (or Lake) of Tiberias, and went over to Capernaum. The next day a great Multitude followed him thither, which ⟨p. 2⟩they did not that they were convinced by the Miracles (although' that was enough to convince them) that he was the Messiah, nor out of any love to his Person or to his Doctrine, but out of love to the Loaves. Christ reproved them, and exhorted them to mind Earthly things less, and Spiritual things more; the Meat which endures to Everlasting Life, which he would give them, and not that which perisheth. Wherefore Christ Preached an admirable Sermon, concerning the Bread of Life, that Bread which if a Man eateth of it, he shall not die but live for ever. There are especially two particulars contained in his Sermon, viz. A Declaration what is meant by the Bread of Life, and who they are that eat that Bread. He gives them to understand that He himself is that Bread, and that Believers are they that eat that Bread. It is by Faith that the Souls of Men feed upon Christ, and are made partakers of Eternal Life. This is asserted by Christ in the Words before us, with the greatest solemnity. He pronounceth it with a double Verily, or as it is in the Original, Amen, importing the greatest certainty. Amen, Amen. I say unto you, I who am the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who never did nor can speak an untruth, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath Everlasting Life. If Christ is the Bread of Life, and Faith is a feeding on him, it necessarily follows, that the Believer ⟨p. 3⟩shall have Everlasting Life. By Life happiness is meant. The happy Life is not to be enjoyed in this, but in another World, not Earth, but Heaven is the World where Everlasting Life is to be had.
IN the beginning of this Chapter, we have the History of a Miracle wrought by our Lord Jesus Christ, in feeding five thousand Men with only five loaves and two small fishes. The Jews were much affected with the Miracle, so as that they designed to take him by force and make him a King. Whereupon he withdrew from them, and privately crossed the Sea (or Lake) of Tiberias, and went over to Caparnaum. The next day a great Multitude followed him thither, which