N01899:27
India Christiana. A discourse, delivered unto the Commissioners, for the Propagation of the Gospel…
India Christiana. A discourse, delivered unto the Commissioners, for the Propagation of the Gospel among the American Indians : which is accompanied with several instruments relating to the glorious design of propagating our holy religion, in the Eastern as well as the Western, Indies. : An entertainment which they that are waiting for the kingdom of God will receive as good news from a far country. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. and F.R.S.
printed by B. Green, 1721
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.
No wonder then, if thirdly, it be a Glad ⟨p. 8⟩sound, when we find it such a Good One. A Joyful sound! The Souls that are Effectually Called by the Sound of the Gospel, how Joyful does it render them! The Trumpets of the Gospel do to the Soul, as the Harps of David unto Saul; They drive away the Evil Spirit of Sorrow, of Sadness, of Despair. The Psalmist could say, Psal. CXXII. 1. I was glad, when they said unto me, Let us go into the House of the Lord. The Trumpets which gave a Joyful sound unto the Blessed People, had this among other Intentions of them, They were for the Calling of the Assembly. Glad, Glad at Heart, was that Israelite indeed, when he heard the Trumpets give that call; Come away to the Sacrifices! The Trumpets of the Gospel call us, to those Appointments of GOD, wherein we are to Glorify Him with the Sacrifices of Righteousness; And how glad will a sincere Christian be of such Invitations! But then, in these Appointments of GOD, What is it we meet withal? Enough to make us, Rejoice with Joy unspeakable, and full of Glory! The Tenders of a SAVIOUR, a Powerful, a Merciful, an only SAVIOUR, are here made unto us. Oh, the Joyful sound of such Tenders! The Promises of a most Gracious Covenant, are here brought unto us. These very Great and Precious Promises, Oh, ⟨p. 9⟩the Joyful sound of them. The Sound of these Promises is, Rejoice, O thou saved Soul; GOD the Father is thy Friend; GOD the Son is thy Surety for Good; GOD the Spirit is thy Condu•r and comforter; Be of Good cheer, Thy […] are forgiven thee. The Angels are thy Gu•dians, Thou art a Temple of GOD. GOD will make all things work together for thy good. And were are the Spiritual Blessings of the Heavenly Places reserved for thee! Oh! Joyful sound! How Reviving, how Ravishing! When the Gospel was Preached with Success, we read, Act. VIII. 8. There was great Joy in the City. Well might there be so, on such a Joyful sound! How Joyful is the Soldier, when the Trumpets invite him, To the Spoil! To the Spoil! The Joyful sound of the Gospel carries this in it: Else it had not been said, I rejoice at thy Word, as one that findeth great Spoil. The Blessings which the Word of GOD leads us to, are Matchless Treasures. What a Joyful sound must it be, that leads us to them!