N01911:136
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.
3. Herein is implied, That Christ doth even stay and wait upon sinners, that he may do them good. This is here intimated by standing, I stand at the door and knock; This standing is a waiting Posture, the Greek word is as much as to say, I have stood, ⟨p. 92⟩and do stand still: Christ doth not come and knock at the door once, and then away again presently, but he standeth there. The words note then, not only that Christ maketh a motion of mercy to poor sinners, but moreover Constancy and Assiduity in the motion; therefore he saith, Isa. 65.2. I have stretched forth my hands all the day long. Such is his wonderful Patience and Grace, as that he is pleased to stand knocking at the door, as it were, from morning till night, even all the day long; Whence it is also said, that the Lord waits to be gracious, Isa. 30.18. He waits upon sinners, till he hath run through' a course of means of Salvation with them. As a Physician doth attend upon a Patient, until he hath run through a course of Physic, and then indeed he giveth him over, when he seeth there's no good to be done upon him: So doth the Lord deal with the Souls of men; he waits also even till the sinner hath run through a course of sin and wickedness, many a sinner, until such time as he hath quite filled up the measure of his sins, Christ doth wait to be gracious to him, thus doth he stand at the door
3. Herein is implied, That Christ doth even stay and wait upon sinners, that he may do them good. This is here intimated by standing, I stand at the door and knock; This standing is a waiting Posture, the Greek word is as much as to say, I have stood, ⟨p. 92⟩and do stand still: Christ doth not come and knock at the door once, and then away again presently, but he standeth there. The words note then, not only that Christ maketh a motion of mercy to poor sinners, but moreover Constancy and Assiduity in the motion; therefore he saith, Isa. 65.2. I have stretched forth my hands all the day long. Such is his wonderful Patience and Grace, as that he is pleased to stand knocking at the door, as it were, from morning till night, even all the day long; Whence it is also said, that the Lord waits to be gracious,