N01667:148
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
That Men are Infinitely Concerned, not only to hear the Voice of Ch… › Application 1: USE, I.
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. Many do not improve and profit by Sermons and by the Holy Ordinances of Christ, as they might and should do. The Seed of the Word is sown in our Congregations: but in what ground? Have we not cause to think sadly on the Parable of the Sower, which speaks of four sorts of ground, the most of them not fruitful. Fruitful hearers of the word are rare in some Congregations. They hear and do not hear. It is much to be feared, and the thought is awful, That many who live under the Preaching of the Gospel, are under that Judicial dispensation which Isaiah has Prophesied of, That their Ears are dull of hearing, and their Eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their Eyes, and hear with their Ears, and should understand with their hearts, and be converted, Matth. 13.15. Is not the Lords day, which is a Market-day for the Soul, by some spent very Unprofitably? O how much good might Men gain to their Souls in one Lords day, would they carefully improve it? If they would spend it Publicly and Privately with that Religion which ought to be; in Praying, and in Reading Books of Piety, and in Holy Discourse; surely their Souls would thrive in Grace. But do not many spend the Evening after the Sabbath so Irreligiously, as that the Sermons which they heard in the day are in a manner lost before the next day?
2. Many do not improve and profit by Sermons and by the Holy Ordinances of Christ, as they might and should do. The Seed of the Word is sowen in our Congregations: but in what ground? Have we not cause to think sadly on the Parable of the Sower, which speaks of four sorts of ground, the most of them not fruitful. Fruitful hearers of the word are rare in some Congregations. They hear and do not hear. It is much to be feared, and the thought is awful, That many who live under the Preaching of the Gospel, are under that Judicial dispensation which Isaiah has Prophesied of, That their Ears are dull of hearing, and their Eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their Eyes, and hear with their Ears, and should understand with their hearts, and be converted, Matth. 13.15. Is not the Lords day, which is a Market-day for the Soul, by some spent very Unprofitably? O how much good might Men gain to their Souls in one Lords day, would they carefully improve it? If they would spend it Publickly and Privately with that Religion which ought to be; in Praying, and in Reading Books of Piety, and in Holy Discourse; surely their Souls would thrive in Grace. But do not many spend the Evening after the Sabbath so Irreligiously, as that the Sermons which they heard in the day are in a manner lost before the next day?