N01911:337
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.
the sins and guilt of all the world of God's Elect, was laid upon him, and therefore it was the mightiest work that ever was to raise Christ out of the Grave; yet the like Infinite Power is required to make us believe. It is as hard a matter to make a Soul believe, as it is to raise the dead; and therefore it is a work beyond the power of any man or creature. A carnal man once having a Daughter in despair, being asked how she did, Tush, tush (says he) she is well enough, if she would but believe; she aileth nothing, only she wont believe. Soon after it pleased God to strike this mans Conscience with terror; & then he was bid to believe; what, can you not believe now? Oh (saith he) there are millions of sins I have been guilty of, and God hath let loose all the Devils of Hell upon my Soul; and how is it possible for me to believe? Alas men that think it is an easy matter to believe, never knew what it was. To presume is easy, or to despair is easy, but to believe is hard. There never was any man that did believe, but he found hard work of it. These things then show, that it is an hard matter to obtain Salvation. Carnal ⟨p. 252⟩hearts would be pleased well with it, if Ministers would sow pillows under mens elbows, and tell them that they might easily get to Heaven: But Truth saith otherwise, God saith otherwise.
the sins and guilt of all the world of God's Elect, was laid upon him, and therefore it was the mightiest work that ever was to raise Christ out of the Grave; yet the like Infinite Power is required to make us believe. It is as hard a matter to make a Soul believe, as it is to raise the dead; and therefore it is a work beyond the power of any man or creature. A carnal man once having a Daughter in despair, being asked how she did, Tush, tush (says he) she is well enough, if she would but believe; she aileth nothing, only she wont believe. Soon after it pleased God to strike this mans Conscience with terror; & then he was bid to believe; what, can you not believe now? Oh (saith he) there are millions of sins I have been guilty of, and God hath let loose all the Devils of Hell upon my Soul; and how is it possible for me to believe? Alas men that think it is an easie matter to believe, never knew what it was. To presume is easie, or to despair is easie, but to believe is hard. There never was any man that did believe, but he found hard work of it. These things then shew, that it is an hard matter to obtain Salvation. Carnal ⟨p. 252⟩