N01911:186
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.
But to speak a little more particularly, the truth hereof appears:
1. In that the outward strivings of the Spirit may be removed: So the Lord threatens in the eighth of Amos, that he would send a Famine in the Land, not a Famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Word of the Lord: There shall be a Famine of the Word, saith God, you shall be deprived of the means of Grace. And so we see it was; for Acts 13.46. Paul and Barnabas said to the Jews, seeing you put the Word from you, Lo•• we turn to the Gentiles: So that the means of Grace may be taken from particular persons, as it was from Cain and Ishmael; or from a people, as it was taken from the Jews: But when God taketh away the means, his Spirit is wont to cease striving; yea, sometimes God ceaseth to strive with a people, or with particular persons, from that day that he taketh away their godly minister from them: The time of Gods taking his leave of some, bears date from that very day when their faithful Minister was removed. Again, as to Providential strivings, they may cease before death: The Lord may take away his mercy from a sinner (as he did from Saul) or he may in Judgement resolve▪ ⟨p. 129⟩never more afflict him; it may come to that, that God will resolve not to lose one stroke more upon such Rebellious ones. It is therefore mentioned as one of the highest threatenings, Hos. 4.14. I will not punish your Daughters when they commit Whoredom, nor your Spouses when they commit Adultery; and vers. 17. Ephraim is turned to Idols, let him alone: Let him sin and prosper, no more means shall be used with him, to stop him in his course and career of Sin. Thus may the outward strivings of the Spirit be removed. And hence,
1. In that the outward strivings of the Spirit may be removed: So the Lord threatens in the eighth of Amos, that he would send a Famine in the Land, not a Famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the Word of the Lord: There shall be a Famine of the Word, saith God, you shall be deprived of the means of Grace. And so we see it was; for