N01732:41
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.
Believe it, Sirs, There is many a Child of godly Parents shall go to Heaven, and the holy example of their Father has been the Means of their Conversion to God. Then be very holy. Take heed that your Children do not see their Fathers Nakedness & be hardened thereby, as Ham was. Walk before ⟨p. 22⟩them in all holy Conversation; […] them, and Charge them. Solomon […] the Instructions he received […] his Parents was a Means of lasting […] to him. I was my Fathers Son, […] only beloved in the sight of my Mother; […] taught me also, and said unto me, get […], yet understanding, keep my comm•• ments and live, Prov.4.3. Lay the •• lemn charge of God on your Child••• ▪ What a solemn charge did David […] his Son Solomon? Thou Solomon my […] know, and serve the God of thy Father, […] thou seek him he will be found of thee, […] if thou forsake him he will cast thee for ever. It is reported concerning […] holy Man, That upon his Death […] he said to his Children, Let not any of […] dare to see me at the Day of Judgment an Unregenerate State, if you do, I […] to you, I your Father will be a witness against you, and will join with the Lord Jesus Christ in passing a Sentence of eter•••• Condemnation upon you. And be much Prayer for your Children. You […] not what Prayer may do for them. […] may be you may Pray down Grace […] their hearts, tho' you may not see ⟨p. 23⟩answer presently, if you hold on Praying. •t may be God will say to you, as to Abraham, concerning his wild Son Ishmael, • have heard thee, and will bless him. That instance of Monica the Mother of Austin, •s well known. Austin was a vain ungodly Youth, his Pious Mother was extremely troubled for him, went into her Closet, continued Praying that God would give him Grace; She went to Ambrose, and made her complaint to him, with a flood of Tears, Oh what shall I do that my Son Austin may be Converted. Said Ambrose, Don't trouble thy self, that Son of thine shall be Converted, I will never believe that a Child of so many Prayers & Tears shall perish. In a while after, That Young Man became One of the most holy Men on the face of the earth. Then let Parents go on Praying to God for their Children.