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

Now of this sort are the greatest part of the Inhabitants of the Earth by far. Christendom (as it is called) even the whole Christian World, is but a little spot, compared with the rest of the World. Some have observed, that if all the Inhabitants of the World should be divided into one & thirty parts, nineteen of the one & thirty are Idolaters, & seven parts are Mahometans and Jews, and only five parts of one and thirty that is so much as in name Christian. However, sure it is, that the Christian World is little, compared with the Pagan World: And yet amongst those that call themselves Christian, the greatest part are in the broad way, which leadeth to destruction; for the greatest part of these are indeed Antichristian: Let us set aside the Grecian, Jacobites and Nestorians (who are said to comprehend the greatest part of them that are known by the name Christians) as being in sundry ⟨p. 198⟩points Heretical; & look into Europe, America, and how few shall we find there that are Christians indeed? For in many Places and Nations there are more Papists than Protestants, albeit as to our Nation, through the mercy of God, it be not so. But you have heard it proved that Popery is damnable Heresy. No doubt but that there may be some simple Souls amongst Papists, who having the knowledge of the Fundamental points in Religion, and living according to the light they have thereby received, though they may ignorantly think well of the Church of Rome, God may show them mercy: But I speak of wilful Papists, and of such as live up to the Principles of that Religion, which is inconsistent with living according to the Principles of the Doctrine of Christ, now these must needs perish. I would be loth to be the Author of an harsh Censure, yet I am willing to speak after the Angel of God: See then Revel. 14.9, 10. The third Angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man Worship the Beast and his Image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the Wine of the Wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the Cup of his Indignation, he shall be tormented with fire and ⟨p. 199⟩brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. A very dreadful Scripture; and the persons concerned in it are Papists.