N01911:74
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.
1. Humbleness of mind: A Child hath no ambitious high designs in his heart, only minds lesser matters. Hence David saith; ⟨p. 46⟩Psal. 131.1, 2. Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty, neither do I exercise my self in great matters, or in things too high for me: Surely I have behaved my self as a weaned child that is weaned, my soul is as a child. David was accused, as if he had had ambitious aspirings after Saul's Kingdom; But saith he, I am as free from those Imputations as a child that is but a weanling, who hath no such aspirings in his thoughts. Now this humbleness of mind, is a special thing intended in the Text by Conversion. Unmortified Pride is a Soul-damning sin; yet there is no sin more natural, or more hard to subdue than Pride; it's the first that liveth, and the last that dyeth. Hence the work of Conversion is well expressed in the Text, by the Mortification of that one lust. And oft in the Scripture, a Natural man and a Proud man are the same, Mal. 4.1. and a Converted man, and an Humble man are also the same, James 4.6. Luke 18.14. He that humbles himself shall be exalted. That humbling noteth Conversion.
2. A Child is teachable and tractable: A Child is far more easy brought under Discipline, than an elder person that was never used to it. Thus it is with a Convert: He is become marvellous teachable, ready to be led with the Word and Spirit of God; It is said of such, Isa. 11.6. ⟨p. 47⟩A little Child shall • lead them. Now then, consider, will the least word of God awe you, and lead you this way or that way? Tho' the Instrument be never so contemptible, yet if he bring Scripture along with him, doth the Authority of that carry you before it, this is a good sign.