Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…

Name: Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…
Author: Increase Mather

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.

Increase Mather 1639–1723Boston: printed by John Allen for John Edwards, 1721

[2], xxii, 260, [4] p. ; 16 cm. (12mo) · 67k words · Evans 2260

Title page typeset from the transcription.

It is the great Interest of men, to hear and open to Christ, when h…: It is the great Interest of men, to hear and open to Christ, when he stands knocking at…

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.

[ Earlier:129–144 of 348

:129p. 89

In the Doctrinal prosecution of this Point, four things may be attended; 1. To show what is implied in Christs standing at the door and knocking. 2. How or by what means Christ knocketh. 3. What is implied in hearing Christ's Voice, and opening to him. 4. How it doth appear that they are happy that receive Christ; or that it is the interest of men so to do. To all these briefly.

In the Doctrinal prosecution of this Point, four things may be attended; 1. To shew what is implied in Christs standing at the door and knocking. 2. How or by what means Christ knocketh. 3. What is implied in hearing Christ's Voice, and opening to him. 4. How it doth appear that they are happy that receive Christ; or that it is the interest of men so to do. To all these briefly.

:130p. 90

Quest. 1. What is implied in Christ's standing at the door and knocking?

:131p. 90–91

Answ. 1. Herein is implied, That Christ is not so far entertained as ought to be. As for every sinful man, either Christ is out of his heart totally, so it is as to to those that are in a state of sin and unbelief, John 1.11. He came to his own, and they received him not. The unbelieving Jews gave no entertainment to Christ, but they shut him wholly out of doors, as it were. Faith and Repentance doth open the door to Christ; so Sin and Unbelief doth shut the door against him; hence the Apostle saith to the Ephesians, that by Nature they were without Christ, Ephes. 2.12. The natural man is out of Christ, and Christ is out of him; or if Christ be not out of doors wholly, yet he is so comparatively. Of some Christ is not at all entertained; of others, not so much as he should be. There is a first and a further entertainment of Christ; the one of these concerns Unbelievers, the other Believers. The Saints themselves may give a further entertainment unto Christ; hence Christ knocks at the door, even that he might have yet further entertainment. As in great houses there are many rooms, there are rooms of common entertainment, and there's a Closet for a mans self, and his intimate Friend, Thus it is here, Christ would be admitted,

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