N01667:134
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
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. The Christian Sabbath is a Day in which Men have special advantages to be promoving their Souls Good and Salvation: Wherefore they should hear the Voice of Christ therein. It is called the Lords Day, Rev. 1.10. Since it is Christs Day, He will make it a blessed day to such as shall then hear his Voice. Psal. 518 24. This is the day which the Lord ⟨p. 79⟩hath made. He has made it, that so we might worship him on that Day as our Redeemer. For the space of four thousand Years from the Creation the Seventh day of the Week was the Day of solemn Worship, in Commemoration of God, His resting on that Day from the Work of Creation; but the First Day of the Week is the Christian Sabbath in Commemoration of our Saviour Christ his rising from the dead on that day, and so resting from the Work of Redemption then finished. The Lords Day has been a Day of Salvation to many a Soul; indeed to the generality of Gods Elect. Among the Lords Ancient People, when there was to be a solemn Feast, a Silver Trumpet was to be sounded which called the People together. The Psalmist alludes to that, Psal. 89.15. Blessed is the People that know the joyful sound. The sounding of the Silver Trumpet, did figuratively signify the Preaching of the Gospel. It is on the Lords Day that the Silver Trumpet of the Gospel sounds, and then and thereby Christ himself is from Heaven speaking to us. The Lords Day is a Market Day for the Soul. Is it a Spiritual Fair, in which Commodities are offered to Men as will enrich their Souls. To refuse them is the greatest disobedience to the Voice of Christ that possibly can be.
3. There are Times when the Holy Spirit strives with Sinners, that is their Day of Grace. ⟨p. 80⟩It was the Spirit of Christ that did strive with the Sinners of the Old World before the flood, and then they had a blessed day of Grace,