N01667:17
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.
I. Faith implies a work of God on the Understanding enlightening it, and causing an Assent to the great Truths of the Gospel. It implies a giving Credit to divine Testimony. ⟨p. 4⟩It is expressed in the Scripture by a full assurance of Understanding, Col. 2.2. The Believer does not only think that the mystery of the Gospel is Truth, but He is sure of it. Hence Peter speaking in the Name of all true Believers, says, We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ the Son of the living God, Joh. 6.69. There must be Knowledge in the Head or there will not be Faith in the Heart. No Man will believe in an Unknown Christ. Joh. 10.38. That you may know and believe. Yea, Knowledge is so Essential to Faith, as that Faith is sometimes called Knowledge, Isai. 53.11. By his Knowledge. i. e. by the knowledge of him, my righteous Servant: it is Christ the Righteous, who is there called Gods righteous Servant, shall justify many. It is by Faith that many are justified. In special the Believer giveth a full Assent to that great Truth of the Gospel, that the promised Messiah is come, and that our Jesus is He. Christ said to Martha, whosoever liveth, and believeth in me shall never die: Believest thou this? She said unto him, yea, Lord, I believe, that thou art the Christ, the Son of God that should come into the World, Joh. 11.27. He believeth what the Gospel reveals concerning the Person of Christ: That he is God and not Man only, but God and Man in One Person. And he believes the Truth relating to the Office of Christ, that there is One Mediator between God and Man, the Man Christ Jesus: And the Truth ⟨p. 5⟩which concern Christs State of Humiliation and Exaltation. That he dyed, and was made a Sacrifice for the Sins of his People, and rose again the third day, and is ascended to Heaven, and is at the right hand of God, Angels being made subject to him, and will come again at the last day to Judge the World. That Man that does disbelieve or deny any one fundamental Article of the Christian Religion, cannot be a true Believer on Christ. But although' the Faith of Assent is necessary, it is not alone a Saving Faith. For many Hypocrites and Reprobates have it. There were chief Rulers among the Jews of whom it is said that they believed, but they did not confess their Faith, For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God,