N01814:52
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.
2. The Truth before us has been confirmed in all Ages of the World. Ever since their was a Church on Earth there has been Hypocrites as well as Sincere Professors therein, as now, when the Church was in Families a• first it was, in the first Family that was in the World there ⟨p. 40⟩were godly & ungodly ones therein, Abel was a godly Man, was said to be a true Believer in Christ, his Mother Eve was a godly Woman, there is reason also to believe that his Father Adam repented of his Sin and found Mercy with God, but the Eldest Son in that Family was a Reprobate, he was not the Lord's chosen, namely Cain, therefore the Scripture says of him, Cain was of the wicked one; he hated his Brother for his Religion and murdered him, yet this Cain would worship God, he brought his offering to God, he was a Tiller of the Ground, he brought of the fruit of the Ground, an offering unto the Lord, he pretended to Religion, and had no true Religion in him. In Abraham's Family there was a godly Isaac; and a mocking Ishmael, that would mock at his Brother for his Piety; the Apostle says concerning him, Gal. 4.9. He that was born after the flesh, persecuted him that was born after ⟨p. 41⟩the spirit. How did he persecute him but by scoffing and mocking at him. In Isaac's Family there was not only a Jacob, but an Esau. And when the Church became National, the Church of the Jews became National, the greatest part of that National Church were Hypocrites. Isai. 10.6. It is said God would send the Assyrian to punish them, that He would send him against an Hypocritical Nation. 'Tis said in Ezek. 22.18. Concerning the house of Israel, they are the •ross of silver, they are brass and tin, iron and lead, not gold; It was so generally in that Nation, but few comparatively that were the Lord's chosen. Since in the days of the Gospel the Church is become Congregational, particular Congregations are become Churches of God in all parts of the World. Among those there have been Sincere Professors, so also those that have been Hypocritical in their Profession. In the Primitive Christian Church in Jerusalem,