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

But then the Question will be, When is it that Gods Spirit doth cease striving?

Answ. 1. When death cometh, then doth the holy Spirit eternally forsake a sinner▪ it's otherwise with the Saints, when they dye, their Souls go to have a full possession of the Spirit of Grace, whence in this life they are said to receive only an earnest, and the first fruits of the Spirit. But as for a man that is only flesh, (as my Text speaks) when he dyeth, even that which he hath is taken from him, those common operations & strivings of the Spirit which he may partake of, will then leave his forlorn, forsaken soul, Thus with the sinners my Text hath reference unto; it is said of them, they were cut down out of time, Job 22.16. They might have lived many a day, and many a year, but death cut them down afore their time; and then did the Lord fulfil this threatening, ⟨p. 126⟩that his Spirit shall not always strive with man So in the Parable concerning the unfruitful Fig-tree, I will dig about it, and if it bear fruit, well; if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. Luke 13.8, 9. If once the Lord send the Messenger of death, as it were, with an Axe, to lay the sinner even with the ground, then there is no more digging about such an one, that is to say, no more strivings of the Lords Spirit with him.

Answ. 1. When death cometh, then doth the holy Spirit eternally forsake a sinner▪ it's otherwise with the Saints, when they dye, their Souls go to have a full possession of the Spirit of Grace, whence in this life they are said to receive only an earnest, and the first fruits of the Spirit. But as for a man that is only flesh, (as my Text speaks) when he dyeth, even that which he hath is taken from him, those common operations & strivings of the Spirit which he may partake of, will then leave his forlorn, forsaken soul, Thus with the sinners my Text hath reference unto; it is said of them, they were cut down out of time,