N01911:104
Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…
Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D. teacher of a church at Boston, in New-England ; With a preface by Dr. Owen.Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D. teacher of a church at Boston, in New-England ; With a praeface by Dr. Owen.
Boston: printed by John Allen for John Edwards, 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.
I shall only mention two Arguments, evincing the truth of this.
1. Because they that slight the Gospel, are the greatest and most guilty sinners in all the World.
The greatest sinners are in danger of incurring the dreadfullest Condemnation, now so are they that Live under the Gospel, and yet slight it, such sin at high and dear rates indeed; for they sin against light, as Jobs phrase is concerning some, They rebel against the light, chap. 24.13. Had it been possible for them, they would have plucked the Sun out of Heaven, that their wickedness might not have been discovered: So Despisers of the Gospel, are Rebels against the light: yea, ⟨p. 66⟩against the highest and most spiritual light that ever shone upon men. When Christ preached the Gospel in some dark corners an the Land of Judah, it is said, that the people which fate in darkness, saw a great light, Mat. 4.16. The light of Nature is but a dark glimmering light, and the light of the Law was dark, compared with that of the Gospel: but now the Gospel is the most Clear, Divine, Spiritual, Glorious Light that ever shone into the hearts of men. Hence if men despise it their sin, guilt and danger is most fearful: yea, and such persons do not only sin against the clearest Light, but against the highest Love that ever was. It was a wonderful Evidence of Divine Philanthropy, even of the love and kindness of God towards mankind, Tit. 3.4. that he should find out a way for sinful men to come unto Salvation, and by the Gospel he discovers this way. Now to slight the kind offers of God, must needs be heinously evil. God showeth special favour to that people, upon whom he bestoweth the Gospel and Ordinances thereof,