N01667:157
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.
Do any of you say, What would you have us to do, That we may become Obedient Hearers to the Word of Christ, and that without any delay?
Answ. I wish you would seriously Think and Consider. Thus says the Lord of hosts, Consider your ways. You say you cannot Convert your selves: but you have power to Think sadly and Consider of Things, if you will. Does not David say, I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy Testimonies, Psal. 119.59. Think sadly with thy self, What have my ways been? And think what is the way which I am now in? What is my present State? Am I in a State of Grace? Am I sure of that? If I should die this Night? Have I a persuasion grounded on the Scripture, That my Soul shall be with holy Angels, and with the Spirits of Just Men made perfect? And there is another thing, I wish you would think of. Think what anguish Damned Souls are in, because their day of Grace is past. I have heard of a poor Creature that when at the point of Death, uttered such words as these, If I had ⟨p. 95⟩Ten thousand Worlds, I would give them all that I might live one day longer. Certainly it is so with those in Hell. They would give Worlds if they had them to give, that they might have One Sabbath, or One Sermon, or have One Offer of Grace more; One Day to Repent in, with any hopes of finding Mercy with God. Oh Consider of it. And Oh that you would go home, and get alone and Think sadly on ETERNITY. It may be one quarter of an hours serious Consideration on it, might be a Means of thy Conversion and Eternal Salvation. That precious Man of God Mr. Flavel, in one of his profitable Books, speaks of a Person of Quality, who having been abroad with vain Companions until late in the Night, she found a Servant who was of a more serious Spirit, reading in a good Book; at first she derided her, saying, Poor Melancholy Soul, What dost thou poring on a Book: but after a while burst out into a flood of Tears, Saying to her Servant, As I looked on the Book you was reading, I saw that word ETERNITY: The thought on that word ETERNITY, has broke my very heart within me. I Pray God the serious thought of ETERNITY may savingly Break the hearts of many that hear me this day. Oh Consider and Think sadly of it, before thou art gone into ETERNITY, whither thou art hastening;