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

1. In that there are many Impediments to hinder a man from coming into, or from going on in the way of salvation. There are many and mighty Enemies unto Salvation. As now the Devil is one Enemy to Salvation, his name is Abaddon, and Apollyon, that is, a Destroyer: Christ and Satan are most contrary in Nature, Properties and Works; Christs work is to be a Saviour of Souls, but the Devils work is to be a Destroyer of Souls. And this is a mighty Enemy; hence the Scripture speaketh of the power of the Enemy, and the Apostle saith, We wrestle not with flesh and blood, that is, not with weak Enemies, but with Principalities and Powers, even with strong and potent Enemies, Eph. 6.13. And also a most subtle Enemy, therefore compared, not only to a Serpent, but to an Old Serpent, Rev. 12.9. because of his exceeding subtlety. Now if a man hath a potent and politic Enemy to watch all opportunities against, this calls for fear and care, lest his Enemies should be his ruin. Satan labours by fraud to hinder the Salvation of sinners; thence sometimes he persuades them, that they are in the way of Salvation, when as it is not so; and sometimes he persuadeth a sinner, that it is soon enough, & too soon for to look after Salvation: Thus he ruins many by Presumption. Also he labours to hinder the Salvation of Souls by ⟨p. 243⟩force, and thence persuadeth them, that it is too late for them to look after Salvation, and so ruins them by despair. The Devil doth what he can to keep men from entering into the way of Salvation; or if he cannot do that, then he endeavours to hinder them from going on in that way: Whence it is that they that are brought into the sta•e of Grace and Salvation, meet with new fears, new difficulties, new temptations, which other men are not acquainted with, and which themselves in former times were not troubled with.

1. In that there are many Impediments to hinder a man from coming into, or from going on in the way of salvation. There are many and mighty Enemies unto Salvation. As now the Devil is one Enemy to Salvation, his name is Abaddon, and Apollyon, that is, a Destroyer: Christ and Satan are most contrary in Nature, Properties and Works; Christs work is to be a Saviour of Souls, but the Devils work is to be a Destroyer of Souls. And this is a mighty Enemy; hence the Scripture speaketh of the power of the Enemy, and the Apostle saith, We wrestle not with flesh and blood, that is, not with weak Enemies, but with Principalities and Powers, even with strong and potent Enemies,