N01667:19
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.
2. In Faith there is implied the Consent of the Will. Believers are Christs People. And his People are a Willing People, Psal. 110.3. In this does Believing especially consist. Hence Faith is said to be not a believing Of Christ, but a Believing On him. So in the Text before us. And Believing In him, Joh. 11.25. He that believeth in me though he were dead, yet shall he live. And there are many other Expressions whereby Faith is denoted in the Scripture which imply a Consent of the Will. e. g. It is described by a willingness to come to Christ for Life and Salvation. Christ said to the unbelieving Jews, You will not come to me that you might have life, Joh. 5.40. Unbelief is a departing from Christ. So 'tis by Faith that we go to him for Salvation. When some false hearted Disciples were so offended at some passages in Christs Sermon, as to go back and walk no more with him, Christ said to his true Disciples, Will you also go away? Peter answered, Lord to whom shall we go, Thou hast the words of Eternal Life, Joh. 6.68. Thy words which teach us to believe on thee will bring us to Eternal Life, therefore we will go to thee and to no one else for it. Faith is ⟨p. 8⟩expressed by that of Trusting in the Lord, in which is implied a Consent of the Will, and a Resting on him, and a Leaning on him. Cant. 8.5. Who is this that comes up from the Wilderness Leaning on her beloved. It is the Believer that comes out of the Wilderness of this World, and Leans upon Christ all the Way in his Journey towards Heaven. Again, Faith is called Obedience. He is the Author of Salvation to all that obey him, Heb. 5.9. It is not a forced but a willing Obedience. Isai. 1.19. If ye be willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the Land. They that are willingly obedient to Christ shall eat the good of the heavenly Land, they shall eat the bread of Life there. Moreover, Believing is said to be a Receiving of Christ.