N01814:44
Awakening soul-saving truths, plainly delivered, in several sermons. In which is showed, I. That…Awakening soul-saving truths, plainly delivered, in several sermons. In which is shewed, I. That…
Awakening soul-saving truths, plainly delivered, in several sermons. In which is showed, I. That many are called, who are not effectually called. II. That men may be of the visible church, and yet not be of the Lord's chosen. III. That the chosen of God are comparatively but few. / By Increase Mather. D.D. ; [Four lines of Scripture texts]Awakening soul-saving truths, plainly delivered, in several sermons. In which is shewed, I. That many are called, who are not effectually called. II. That men may be of the visible church, and yet not be of the Lord's chosen. III. That the chosen of God are comparatively but few. / By Increase Mather. D.D. ; [Four lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by S. Kneeland for B. Gray, 1720
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.
That Men may belong to the Visible Church of God, yet not be of the Lord's Chosen.
If Men are of the Invisible Church▪ they will be of the Visible Church, they will make profession of the Name of God, therefore it is said, Rom. 10.10. With the heart man believeth, and with the mouth confession is made unto Salvation. If there is true Faith in a Man's Heart he will ma•e a confession openly before the World of his Faith, he will let all the World know, he believes there is a God, that there is no God but He who made Heaven and Earth, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he trusts in Him only for Eternal Salvation: ⟨p. 31⟩But a Man may be of the Visible Church yet not be of the invisible Church. By the Invisible Church we understand the Elect of God who are effectually called, or true Believers on the Lord Jesus Christ; all who are of the Visible Church are not such, which will appear from several Things, which are Demonstrations of the Truth before us.
Demon. 1. Men may be externally in Covenant with God, yet not be of his Chosen. They that are in Covenant with God belong to His Visible Church, tho' it may be only externally so; as for those that are of the true Church of God, they are not only Covenanters, but Covenant-keepers, keepers of their Covenant with God. Psal. 103.17, 18. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear him, to such as keep his covenant, to those that remember his commandments: yet there are many ⟨p. 32⟩