N01732:126
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, I. We should make sure that we […] of those for whom Christ does Intercede. Then happy are we, considering Christs Intercession always prevails: and what does He Intercede for? Joh. 17. 17. Sanctify them through thy truth. That Grace may be given to His Elect. Christ Prays that Sanctifying Grace may be given to His Elect: And as for Believers who are Sanctified, it is His Prayer that they may be more Sanctified, that more Grace may be given to them. Are not those happy Men, happy Women, concerning whom this is true? Surely they are. Christ Prays that they may be where he is, and He is ascended into Heaven: He is gone to the Father, therefore gone that He may prepare a Place for them. Christ by His Intercession does prepare a Place in Heaven for all true Believers on His Name. It is true, ⟨p. 118⟩there are some subjects of Christs Intercession that cannot know they are so, Namely, the Elect of God while Unconverted; but there are others may know Christ is Interceding for them, Namely, true Believers may know that Christ Intercedes for them, by their having the Spirit of Prayer; if they have the Spirit of Prayer it is certain Christ does Intercede for them. Joh. 14. 16. I will pray the Father and he will send you another comforter, even the spirit of truth. If God has sent his Spirit into our hearts, making Intercession, in us, we may know Christ is Interceding for us before the Throne of God in Heaven. The Apostle says, We know not what to Pray for as we ought, but the Spirit of God maketh Intercession in us with groans that cannot be uttered, If we have the Spirit of God making Intercession in us, we may believe, we should believe, Christ is Interceding for us. Indeed Men may practice the duty of Prayer, yet not have the Spirit of Prayer; yea, a Man may have the gift of Prayer, able to Pray an hour or two, yet not have the Spirit of Prayer. Zech. 12. 10. I will pour the spirit of grace and supplication, upon the ⟨p. 119⟩house of David. If there is a Spirit of supplication, there is Grace wrought in the Soul. The Spirit of Prayer, What is it? It implies a continual Inclination […] Prayer; a Man that has the Spirit of Prayer, cannot for his Life live without Prayer; if he has been from God a while he cannot be at rest till he go to God again. The Spirit of Prayer makes a Man desire chiefly Spiritual blessings;