N01911:225
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.
7. The time wherein Gods Spirit doth strive with men is to be improved. There are seasons wherein the holy Spirit is blessedly at work with the heart: now these are seasons which ought carefully to be improved. If men be to set sail, they must take the opportunity when the wind serveth: So if they would be setting sail towards Heaven, they must observe the gales of the Spirit; they must lay hold on the opportunity, wherein the blessed breathings of the Spirit are afforded to them. These should be improved in order to Repentance, lest haply the Spirit of the Lord do forsake a man, and give him up to the hardness of his own heart for ever; as you have lately heard that with ⟨p. 159⟩some sinners it is so. And these seasons ought to be improved for prayer, Ephes. 6.18. Pray always, in every season, as the Greek phrase is, watching thereunto, &c. You must watch when the Spirit of God stirs you up to prayer, and then upon your knees sometimes the Lord by his Spirit secretly moveth unto prayer, yea sometimes he puts the heart into a praying frame: Now that's a season of Grace which may not be neglected without great danger to a mans Soul.
Lastly, The present time is that which should carefully be improved: So Eccles. 12.1. Remember [now] thy Creator. Men, especially young men, when they are called upon to be mindful of God, & the things of God, & the great concernments of their Souls, are apt to put it off till to morrow, or sometime hereafter; but the holy Ghost saith now. Mind this matter without any further delays; Do not think to put off God with Excuses, or with To morrows, but the first thing you do, make sure of an interest in him, 2 Cor. 6.2. Behold now is the accepted time! Behold now is the day of Salvation. Satan saith, and a Self-deceiving heart saith, To morrow, to morrow; but the Lord saith, Now, now. Yea, there is a double Behold added to it, Behold, behold, Now, now is the time for you to look after your Salvation, if ever you desire to be saved. But of this more in the Application of the point.