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

Again, God strives outwardly by his Providences, as well as by his Word and Ordinances: A• now he striveth by mercies. By bestowing these, doth the Lord seek to draw the hearts of men after himself, Hos. 11.4. I drew them with cords of a man. God did seek and strive to draw them to himself, ⟨p. 119⟩by the cords of a man, that is, by mercies & loving kindnesses, for those are the cords of a man, even the cords which men are taken and drawn with. And thus also did the Lord strive with these sinners of the Old World, which my Text speaketh of, as you may see by that which Eliphas speaketh, Job 22.15. to 19. Hast thou marked the old way which wicked men have trodden, whose foundations was overthrown with a flood, which said unto God, depart from us, & what can the Almighty do to them, yet he filled their houses with good things. So that those wicked men that were overthrown with the Hood, yet God filled their houses with good things, and thereby did he strive with them, to see if kindness would break their hearts. The Lord also striveth by outward Afflictions and Judgments upon men. Hence Afflictions are called Gods contendings, Job 10.12. Job saith, he would say unto God, show me wherefore thou contendest with me. When the Lord Afflicts a sinner, he doth as it were, commence a Suit in Law against him, he brings the Law to him, and showeth him, that he hath transgressed the Law. Thus doth he contend, thus doth he strive.

Again, God strives outwardly by his Providences, as well as by his Word and Ordinances: A• now he striveth by mercies. By bestowing these, doth the Lord seek to draw the hearts of men after himself, Hos. 11.4. I drew them with cords of a man. God did seek and strive to draw them to himself, ⟨p. 119⟩by the cords of a man, that is, by mercies & loving kindnesses, for those are the cords of a man, even the cords which men are taken and drawn with. And thus also did the Lord strive with these sinners of the Old World, which my Text speaketh of, as you may see by that which Eliphas speaketh,