N01732:100
Five sermons on several subjects. I. A birth-day sermon, preached on the day when…
Five sermons on several subjects. I. A birth-day sermon, preached on the day when the author attained to the eightieth year of his age. II. A dying testimony to the sovereign grace of God in the salvation of his elect, containing three sermons. III. Believers encouraged to pray from the consideration of Christs interceding for them, and with them. / By Increase Mather, D.D ; [Six lines of quotations]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Daniel Henchman, 1719
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
USE▪ III. Since Believers on Christ are the objects of special Grace, and the subjects of Salvation, Sin is more evil in them than in any Men in the World. Sin, is called the evil. Joh. 17. 15. Keep them from the evil. It is the evil of evils: one Sin has more evil in it than there is in all the afflictions in the World. It is impossible there should be a Sin committed that shall be a little evil, considering against whom it is committed; nevertheless some Sins are greater than others. Sin is aggravated from the consideration of the person committing it. For an Indian, a Heathen to commit a Sin, it is not so bad as for a Christian to commit the same Sin. If Men are only visible Christians their Sin is worse than if others that do not make their Profession should be guilty of the same Sin, because they Sin against their Baptism that obliges them not to Sin. One that was tempted to Sin repelled and overcame the temptation by this consideration, I am baptized, therefore I dare not commit such a Sin. Thence it is if Men who profess ⟨p. 88⟩the Name of Christ shall be guilty of Scandalous Sins, God will punish the• with the greatest Severity. When d• stroying Judgments are coming upon the World for the iniquity thereof, God usually begins with His own Profess••• People: Judgment begins at the house of God. When there was a Commission […] slay utterly Old and Young, God says, Ezek. 9. 6. Begin at my Sanctuary. […] says of His professing People, Amos […] […] only have I known of all the Families of the earth, therefore I will punish you for […] your iniquities. Such Men as have […] to be Christians, but have only given their Names to Christ, and […] their Hearts, they are Hypocrites, therefore they shall have the forest Pu•••• meant in another World; the dark•• Dungeon in Hell is reserved for Hyp• crites, therefore the forest punishment is so expressed, Mat. 24. 51