N01667:71
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.
Answ. 1. Let us beware of thinking we are Believers when we are not so. This ungrounded persuasion has undone the greatest part of those that call themselves Christians, and is the cause of their dying in a state of Unbelief to their Eternal ruin. It is a Truth which Men do not love to hear, but it must be spoken, That there are but very few true Believers in the World. Isai. ⟨p. 46⟩53.1. Who hath believed our report? The number of those that have a Saving Belief of what the Gospel revealeth are a very small number. It is Calvins note on those words of the Prophet, That among those that have the Gospel Preached to them, scarce one in an hundred is a true Believer. As among the Jews there were many who professed to know God, but in works they denied him. So many pretend to be Believers on Christ, but their works declare them to be no real Christians. But besides such, There are many Moral Men of blameless Conversation, (as Paul was before his Conversion) who have no Saving Faith: And besides these, many Hypocrites in the purest Churches, who have a seeming Faith, deceiving the World, deceiving Churches, and deceiving their own Souls. For the Lords sake, Let not any of us be of that Number.
Answ. 1. Let us beware of thinking we are Believers when we are not so. This ungrounded perswasion has undone the greatest part of those that call themselves Christians, and is the cause of their dying in a state of Unbelief to their Eternal ruine. It is a Truth which Men do not love to hear, but it must be spoken, That there are but very few true Believers in the World. Isai. ⟨p. 46⟩53.1. Who hath believed our report? The number of those that have a Saving Belief of what the Gospel revealeth are a very small number. It is Calvins note on those words of the Prophet, That among those that have the Gospel Preach'd to them, scarce one in an hundred is a true Believer. As among the Jews there were many who professed to know God, but in works they denied him. So many pretend to be Believers on Christ, but their works declare them to be no real Christians. But besides such, There are many Moral Men of blameless Conversation, (as Paul was before his Conversion) who have no Saving Faith: And besides these, many Hypocrites in the purest Churches, who have a seeming Faith, deceiving the World, deceiving Churches, and deceiving their own Souls. For the Lords sake, Let not any of us be of that Number.