N01667:26
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.
But what are the Terms which we must Consent unto, and comply with, if we would have Christ to be our Saviour? What does the Lord require?
Answ. 1. If we would have Christ to be our Saviour, we must have no other Saviour. As there is no other, nor any in Heaven or Earth that is fit to be the Saviour of the perishing World, but only Jesus Christ. Act. 4.12. There is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. So we may not expect Salvation in whole or in part from any other. Christ says to the Man that would approve himself a Believer, Thou shalt be for me and not for another, Hos. 3 3. David was a true Believer on Christ. He says, My soul wait thou only upon God, my Expectation is from him, he only is my rock and my salvation, Psal. 62.5, 6. The Believer has no other Priest by the Merit of whose Sacrifice he Expects reconciliation with God, and Eternal Life. He does not think to be Saved partly by the Merit of Christs Obedience, and partly by his own. When there were some among the Galatians that would be Saved partly by Moses and partly by Christ, the Apostle declares to them, that if they did continue of that Opinion, Christ would profit them nothing, Gal. 5.2. Nor has the true Believer any other Prophet to whom he yields absolute and universal Obedience, but only Jesus Christ. The Jewish Rabbis expected that their disciples should believe whatever they dictated, as if they had been infallible, which is an Obedience due to Christ alone. In opposition to them, it is said, Neither be ye called Masters, for one is your Master even ⟨p. 14⟩Christ, Matth. 23.10. Moreover, The Believer receives Christ as his King, and the only King of his Soul. Before he had Faith, he submitted his Soul to another King. Sin reigned in him, and Satan ruled over him, but now he says, Other Lords have had dominion over me, for the future I will make mention of thy Name only,