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

We come therefore in the second place, to show that the Spirit of God may cease striving with men. This is expressed here in the Text, where God saith, My Spirit shall not strive always. Now we must not think, that this was a thing peculiar unto those times of the old World only. But God doth in the like case deal after the like manner with sinners in all ages of the World. The Dealings and Dispensations of God in ages of old, were to be Typical and Significative to succeeding Generations. Hence is that of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 10.11. All these things hap•• to them for [Types] and they mere written for our Admonition, upon whom the ends of the World are come: And therefore also the Psalmist speaks, as you find, Psal. 76.2. I will open my mouth in a Parable, I will utter dark sayings of old. And yet if you observe the Psalmist, you shall find, ⟨p. 125⟩that therein the Penman of it reciteth a plain History of Gods dealing with his people in the days of old, what mercies the Lord bestowed on them; and when they abused these mercies, what Judgments befell them, &c.—Why is this called, a parable and dark sayings of old, even because there was more intended in those Records than a bare History; for they were to be for Types and Samples of Gods dealings towards men in after-Generations. Thus may we say concerning the matter before us.

We come therefore in the second place, to shew that the Spirit of God may cease striving with men. This is expressed here in the Text, where God saith, My Spirit shall not strive always. Now we must not think, that this was a thing peculiar unto those times of the old World only. But God doth in the like case deal after the like manner with sinners in all ages of the World. The Dealings and Dispensations of God in ages of old, were to be Typical and Significative to succeeding Generations. Hence is that of the Apostle, 1 Cor. 10.11. All these things hap•• to them for [Types] and they mere written for our Admonition, upon whom the ends of the World are come: And therefore also the Psalmist speaks, as you find,