N01732:121
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.
The faith of the true Believer shall never fail, tho' as to the actings, and the exercise of it, there may be a failing, yet as to the habit of faith, that shall never fail; when the Grace of Faith is really wrought in a Soul it shall never fail. The Believers is like a Tree that may be shaken by the wind, but is never plucked up by the roots: So the wind of temptation may shake the Believer grievously sometimes, but his root of Faith shall abide fast and firm. Believers Pray that they may be brought safe to Heaven at the last; and Christ has interceded with God that it may be so. Christ has said, I will that they be with me where I am that they may behold my glory. They Pray that their Salvation may be carried on to a glorious perfection; and Christ in Heaven does intercede for them that it may be so. Rom. 5. 10. We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life. Saved, that is, our Salvation perfected, by His Life, by His living to be an Intercessor, So Christ in Heaven intercedes for Believers that ⟨p. 111⟩they may be brought safe thither, that their Salvation may be carried on to the highest degree and perfection, which is intimated, Heb. 7. 25. He is able to save to the uttermost them that come to God by him, since he ever liveth to make intercession for them. Save to the uttermost, that is to say, the Salvation of Believers is carried on to a most glorious perfection, there shall be nothing wanting. And why? Christ ever lives to make Intercession. Thus we see what Believers Pray for themselves, Christ Prays with them, presents the same desire before God that they present to him.
The faith of the true Believer shall never fail, tho' as to the actings, and the exercise of it, there may be a failing, yet as to the habit of faith, that shall never fail; when the Grace of Faith is really wrought in a Soul it shall never fail. The Believers is like a Tree that may be shaken by the wind, but is never pluck'd up by the roots: So the wind of temptation may shake the Believer grievously sometimes, but his root of Faith shall abide fast and firm. Believers Pray that they may be brought safe to Heaven at the last; and Christ has interceded with God that it may be so. Christ has said, I will that they be with me where I am that they may behold my glory. They Pray that their Salvation may be carried on to a glorious perfection; and Christ in Heaven does intercede for them that it may be so.