N01899:29
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.
First. There are People who Discern the Joyful sound. The Silver Trumpets of old, were Distinct and Signal in the Sound thereof. The Marches, the Motions, the Stands, of the Armies passing thro' the Wilderness, were directed by the Sound. The Trumpets of the Gospel give Orders unto us; we are to take our Measures from their Joyful sound. People Know the Joyful sound, when they Understand the Gospel; and perceive the Mind of the Lord. There are those under the Gospel, to whom our Lord says, as He once did unto His Disciples after Sermon; Matt. XIII. 51. Have ye understood all these things? And they can reply, Yea, Lord! We may say concerning the Trumpets of the Gospel as was of old said concerning the Pauline Epistles; There are in them, some things hard to be understood. But there are People who ⟨p. 12⟩do competently Understand them. They readily perceive the Language of the Trumpets, about the whole Mystery of CHRIST, and the Homage that we owe unto Him; 'Tis not a Strange Language unto them.
O Blessed People, who so Know the Joyful sound! We remember the Speech of the Pharisees, about the People which know not the Law,—How justly to be spoken about the People, who Know not the Gospel! But then, Blessed the People, who do know it! How it thunders, in Isai. XXVII. 11. It is a People of no Understanding; Therefore He that made them will not have Mercy on them; He that formed them, will show them no Favour. But then on the other side; A People that Understand well the Joyful sound, are a People that GOD has much Mercy for; much Favour for; A People greatly Blessed of the Lord.
O Blessed People, who so Know the Joyful sound! We remember the Speech of the Pharisees, about the People which know not the Law,—How justly to be spoken about the People, who Know not the Gospel! But then, Blessed the People, who do know it! How it thunders, in