N01911:315
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.
4. Be diligent in the use of means: The want of this, is that that utterly and inexcusably ruins the Souls of men, they will not work (as the Text requireth) about their Salvation; they will not labour and take pains in the use of means as they should do, that they may be saved. Oh! this spiritual sloth & sluggishness is that which kills many a soul God hath given thee natural abilities, why dost thou not improve 'em? Thou hast a tongue that is able to pronounce good words as well as bad ones, why then dost thou not make use of thy tongue for good & profitable discourse? Why dost ⟨p. 231⟩thou not ask after the way to Salvation? why dost thou not take unto thee words for prayer, as well as express, vain, frothy, loose, and it may be profane speeches? Thy legs are able to carry thee to one house as well as to another, why then dost thou not frequent good Company? why dost thou not go to houses where the servants of God are praying together, as well as go into wicked Company, or into houses where there is loose and lewd doings? Sinners will not do as much as they can; they will not hear, read, pray, when they ought and might do it; but are like unto them. Jer. 6.16. The Lord said, This is the good way, walk therein, and you shall find rest for your Souls: But they said, We [will not] walk therein. So God saith, Forsake such a course, and such a Company. I will not, saith a wicked heart. Practise such a duty (saith God) read thy Bible much) and pray in secret every day. I will not, saith a wicked sinner. Oh what a Wretch art thou, that darest thus disobey the voice of the Lord! Ah! woe be to thee if thou goest on thus in a careless neglect of God, and of thy own Salvation!
4. Be diligent in the use of means: The want of this, is that that utterly and inexcusably ruins the Souls of men, they will not work (as the Text requireth) about their Salvation; they will not labour and take pains in the use of means as they should do, that they may be saved. Oh! this spiritual sloth & sluggishness is that which kills many a soul God hath given thee natural abilities, why dost thou not improve 'em? Thou hast a tongue that is able to pronounce good words as well as bad ones, why then dost thou not make use of thy tongue for good & profitable discourse? Why dost ⟨p. 231⟩