A Call from Heaven, Sermon 1 – Title page

A Call from Heaven · Sermon 1 – Title page

p. 1A Call TO THE Rising Generation.

1. Chron. 28. 9.

If thou seek him, he will be found of thee.

GOd in his Providence doth many times so order, as that the last words of his eminent Servants shall be of most weighty consideration. The Scripture sets a special Emphasis and Remark upon the last words of David, 2 Sam. 23. 1. now these are the last words of David-the sweet singer of Israel; not that he never spake any words after those, but they were expressed by him, toward the close of his dayes, not very long before he left the world. The same is to be said concerning the words now before us; They are amongst the last, yea, the dying speeches of that holy man of God; who perceiving that the time of his departure was at hand, layeth a most solemn charge upon his son Solomon, that he should endeavour to approve himself a faithful Servant p. 2of his Fathers God. Several Arguments are made use of to back this charge; one is in these words, taken from the benefit which would attend a sincere s…eking the Lord. If thou seek him, he will be found of thee; that is to say, thou shalt then be made happy in the enjoyment of God for ever. If others seek God in sincerity of heart, they shall find him, but (saith David) it is eminently true concerning thee, because the Lord hath been thy Fathers God. Thou art a child of a Father that had a special interest in God, and therefore if thou set thy self to seek him, know for thy encouragement, that he will be most ready, to shew himself favourable to thee, wherefore the Doctrine which may at present be insisted on from the words, is,

Doctr. That the Children of godly Parents are under peculiar advantages and encouragements to seek the Lord. For the clearing of this Doctrine, two things may be attended. 1. To enquire what is implyed in this seeking the Lord which the Text speak…th of▪ 2. How it doth appear that the Children of godly Parents are under peculiar advantages and encouragement so to do?

Qu 1 What is implyed in this seeking the Lord?

Answ. 1 It doth imply that men by nature are such as have lost God. The sinner hath lost himself, Luk. 15. 32. th… thy brother was lost, and is found, yea, and he hath lost God too. He is wandred from his Fathers house. Hence the Apostle said to the Ephesians, they wer… without God in the World. Yea, it is true concerning Children of godly Parents as well as others, Eph. 2 3. we (saith the holy Apostle) were by nature the Children of wrath even as others. We that are Jews an… descended of holy Ancestors, we that are now con… verted, and made Apostles of Christ, by nature wer… Subjects of the wrath and righteous displeasure p. 3God. Not but that some of the Children of godly men, have grace wrought in them whilest in a state of Infancy, as John Baptist was filled with the holy Ghost from his mothers womb, but they do not derive that grace from their Parents, and therefore it is not natural but supernatural, when any of the Children of sinful men are made gracious.

2. Seeking the Lord doth imply a sense of this lost condition. Sense of want puts men upon seeking. The Prodigal was hunger-bitten before he would seek to be reconciled to his Father, when he saw that he was feign to live upon husks, and that there was no way but he must perish with hunger, except he sought unto his Father for a supply, he would do so. If a man hath lost a thing, except he know that he hath lost it, he will not seek after it. Hence in the Parable concerning the lost piece of silver, it is said, what woman if she lose a piece of silver, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it, Luk. 15. 8. So that there must be sense of loss before there will be seeking or finding. Nor will men seek the Lord, except they be by his Spirit made sensible, that they have lost his favour, and are through sin and the fall become miserable.

3. This seeking doth imply earnest desire to find God. That which a man seeketh after he would be glad to find. When Job sought after Communion with God, he maketh enquiry, where shall I find him, Job 23. 3. No one will seek after that which is not an Object of his desires, Psal. 27. 4. One thing have I desired, that will I seek after. If thou seek him, that is to say, if thou earnestly desire to find the Lord, then so it shall be. If God be the chief Object of thy desires, if the desire of thy Soul be towards the remembrance of his Name, then he will be found of thee. As it was with David himself, Psal. 63. 1. O God thou p. 4art my God, early will I seek thee: my Soul thirsteth fo… thee, my flesh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirsty Lan… where no water is. How are the desires and affections of a thirsty man carryed out after water, in a thirsty Land where no water is? when the desires of the Soul are in like manner carryed out after God, that is seeking him.

4. Seeking the Lord doth imply diligence in the use of means in order to obtaining the favour of God. The end implies the means which is necessary in order to obtaining that end, now the favour of God is the end of this seeking. Hence 'tis called a seeking his face, i. e. his favour. Ps. 105. 4 Seek the Lords face & the means in order to obtaining that end, is Repentance of former sins, Faith in the righteousnes of Jesus Christ, (Jer. 50. 5.) walking according to the holy Rules of the Word of God, which is therefore called a walking in all well pleasing before the Lord, inasmuch as so to walk is the way to find the continuance of divine favour.

5. Seeking the Lord doth imply the worship and service of God. As they that do not worship God are said to be such as seek him not, Isai 65. 1. I am found of them that sought me not, meaning that the Gentiles, who in former times did not own and worship the true God, should be brought to the knowledge of him. So to seek God is to worship him, 2 Chron. 11. 16. It is said, that such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel, i. e. to worship him, came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to the Lord God of their Fathers. It is true, that in special that great duty of Prayer (which is a special part of religious worship) is intended, yet not that only; all other parts of divine worship are comprehended under this expression. Hence it is in the Context noted by that of serving the Lord. Now to serve God is to worship him aright. We (said they in Ezra) are the Servants of th… p. 5God of Heaven, meaning that they did worship none else but him, so that a Servant of the Lord is the same with a worshipper of him. This seeking is here set in opposition to forsaking God. Now forsaking hath special respect to that sin of Idolatry and false worship, David was a man that was very faithful to God in the matters of his worship. As for Idols, he would not so much as name them, Psal. 16. 4. And we read in the sacred History of David. that when he had subdued his Enemies, he burnt their Images and Idols, in an holy indignation at the sin of Idolatry. Now he doth exhort his Son Solomon, to follow his Fathers steps in being loyal to God in the matters of his worship. All these particulars may be intended here. If thou seek the Lord, h. e. If thou art sensible of thy lost estate by nature, so as to desire reconciliation with God in the first place, and dost therefore repent of sin, and believe in Christ, and continuest to worship and serve God, according to his own will, then be assured that thou shalt enjoy his favour, and be everlastingly blessed.

We come now to the second thing propounded, viz. Quest 2 To shew how it doth appear that the Children of godly Parents are under peculiar advantages and encouragement to seek the Lord.

Answ. 2 In that the vein of Election doth run through the loyns of godly Parents for the most part. Though it be not wholly, and only so, that Elect Parents have none but elect Children, or that elect Children are alwayes born of elect Parents aaSee Mr. Ca… of Abrahams Covenant p. 38. 39. & Dr. Wi… ter of Infant Bapt p. 37.yet God hath seen meet to cast the line of Election so, as that generally elect Children are cast upon elect Parents, John directs one of his Epistles, To the elect Lady and her Children, whom he also found walking in the Truth. Not only the Mother, but the Children did belong to God. As usually so it is, that if the mother be elect, at p. 6least wise some of the Children are so too. There are many Scriptures which do intimate this truth, Psal. 105. 8. He hath remembred his Covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand gonerations. Intimating both that the longer a generation doth continue godly, the more gracious will the Lord be to the Seed and posterity, and that there are some that in a continued Succession for many generations the Lord hath chosen. Hence Psal. 103. 17. The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his Righteousness unto Childrens Children. Shewing that God from Eternity hath designed mercy to some Parents and to their Children, and their Childrens Children, Isai. 59. 20. my Spirit which is upon thee, & my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord, from hence forth & for ever. To the same purpose is that, Ezek. 37. 25. what more plain can be spoken, to shew that God doth many times cast elect Children upon elect Parents in a continued Succession from generation to generation? See also Isai. 65. 22, 23, Mine Elect and their Off-spring with them are the blessed of the Lord. So that when Parents are Elect, usually their Chileren are so too. Hence it was said to Zacheus, Salvation is come to thy house, Luk. 1…. 9. Not only to his Soul, but to his house. Vsually if God intends to save a man, there are some of his house, i. e. posterity, that are heirs of salvation also. And therefore the Apostle said to the Jaylor, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house, Acts 16. 31. How did Paul know that if the Jaylor believed his Children should be saved? was it from any special Revelation concerning those Children more then with respect unto others? no; but he knew, that when God brought the Father into a state of Salvation, p. 7he was wont to save however some of his Children and posterity. Hence also Paul said to Timothy, when I call to remembrance the unfeigned Faith in thee, which dwelt first in thy Gran…-nother Lois, and thy mother Eunice, and I am perswaded in thee also, 2 Tim. 1. 5. He doth probably and hopefully conclude, that Timothy did belong to God, because he was the Son of a god…y mother and Grand-mother. Moreover, experience and observation doth confirm this truth, that de facto it hath been so. For the Elect are not found in all places alike, but in some Nations more then in others, and that for many Generations successively. And in some Families more then in others. There are some Families in the World, that God hath designed to shew peculiar mercy to them, from generation to generation. And if an account should be taken concerning all the godly men that are now alive in the world, doubtless it would be found, that the greatest part of them are sprung from godly Parents. Though there may be many converted ones in the world, whose Parents did not fear God, yet for the generality of true believers they are such as have descended from believing Parents,

2. The Lord hath established his Covenant not only with Parents, but with Children also. Gen. 17. 7. I will establish my covenant between me & thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be a God to thee & to thy seed after thee. The Saints in all ages are concerned in Abrahams covenant, under which children are comprehended. To say that the Covenant was extended to Children under the Old Testament, but not under the New, is to lessen the grace of God in these dayes of the Gospel. Yea then the Jews would have been great loosers by believing on Christ. If they could have said, in former times our Children were interested in the gracious p. 8Covenant of God, but if we imbrace the Gospel, they shall have no part in the Lord, this would have been such an objection against beleiving as could never have been answered. Wherefore, we shall find that those Scriptures which relate to Gospel times, expresly declare, That not only Believers themselves, but their children also, are subjects of the Lords gracious covenant with his people. Isai. 61. 8▪ 9. I will make an everlasting covenant with them and their Seed shall be known among the Gentiles, & their off▪ spring among the people; all that see them shall acknowledge, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed. And Chap. 65. v. 23. They are the Seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. Now this consideration is a great encouragement to seek the Lord. So it was to them, Jer. 3. 22. We come unto thee, for thou art the Lord our God. We are thy Covenant people, and that doth encourage us to come unto thee. And this did encourage David to seek and hope for the Lords salvation. Psal. 86. 16. Save the son of thine handmaid. And the Apostle did encourage the Jews to repent and return unto the Lord, from this argument, viz. in that they were the children of the covenant. Act. 3. 19, 25. From thence it is evident, that the children of godly Parents stand in a peculiar relation unto God, & that therefore he will not cast them off, except there be great cause for it. Not surely as long as they seek him, and desire to return to him and serve him.

3. There are special promises belonging to such children. Not only the Covenant in general, which is, as it were, a Constellation of glorious promises, but there are peculiar Promises made concerning them▪ There is a promise that they shall be blessed above other children. Psal. 112. 1, 2. Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, his seed shall he mighty on the Earth, the p. 9Generation of the upright shall be blessed. And that successively from one generation to another. Psal. 102. 28. The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee. In another place, David speaking concerning the children of Gods servants, and that in the dayes of the Messiah, faith, A Seed shall serve him, it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. Psal. 22. 30. intimating that the Lord will uphold among the children of his people a certain number that shall be owned as a race of Gods Children. And therefore we have a promise of converting grace to be bestowed on such children. Deut. 30. 6. The Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart and the heart of thy seed. There is a promise for grace as well as to grace, as to those that belong to the election of grace. Circumcision of heart implyeth Regeneration, which is promised to the Lords Servants with respect unto their children. And that was one reason why the Lord did of old appoint Circumcision to be applyed to the children of his people, that so this promise of converting grace in due time to be vouchsafed, might be sealed. The same thing is promised, … Isai. 44. 3. I will pour my Spirit upon thy Seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring. And the Lord hath made a blessed promise of salvation to such children, Isai. 49. 25. I will save thy children. Hence it is promised that the seed of the Lords Servants shall inherit Sion. Psal. 69. 36. Which word is made good in these dayes of the Gospel, by giving heaven to the children of beleivers as their everlasting inheritance. Now albeit these promises doe not absolutely respect all the children of every godly man, only the elect amongst them, yet they are generally and indefinitely propounded; and that is encouragement as to Parents to pray for their children, yea for all of them, as it was to David, 1. Chr. 17.3 p. 10O my God, thou hast told thy servant, thou wilt build him an house, therefore thy Servant hath found in his heart to pray before thee. And now Lord, thou art that God that hast promised this goodness to thy servant, now therefore let it please thee to bless the house (i. e. the family and posterity) of thy Servant, that it may be before thee for ever; for thou blessest O Lord and it shall be blessed for ever. So it is a wonderfull encouragement to the Children of holy men, to seek unto the Lord for grace and Salvation for themselves. The child of a godly man may come before the Lord, and say, Lord thou hast promised to bestow grace, and give eternal blessings unto those that are the children of such as fear thy name, my Father, my Mother thou knowest did fear thy name, why then may not that promise belong to me?

4. The children of godly parents are the subjects of much faithfull prayer. David prayed earnestly for his Son Solomon, 1 Chron. 29. 19. & 22. 16. So did Isaac for his son Jacob. Gen. 28. 1, 3, 4. Now it is matter of great encouragement, that prayer is going: especially the prayers of godly parents will doe much in order to obtaining mercy for their children. For they have a great natural affection toward their children, which when it is sanctified, maketh them to be the more earnest with the Lord for them. If a Child were to ask prayers for his life, let him desire the prayers of his Father, if his Father be indeed one that hath an Interest in Heaven. It is said in the fifth Commandment, Honour thy Father, and thy Mother, that thy dayes may be long upon the Land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, Exod 20. 12. because as for dutiful Children, their Parents are engaged to pray much for them, and by that means do lengthen out their dayes. In the Hebrew it is, they shall prolong thy dayes, h. e. thy Father and thy Mother shall do so▪ p. 11How should they do it? bbSee Dr. Owen on Ps. 130 p. 218.Ps 130even by praying for their Posterity, and blessing them in the Name of the Lord, and by that means prolonging their dayes not only upon the Earth, but to Eternity in Heaven, of which that Land of Canaan was a Type. The prayers of godly Parents have a great influence and Interest in obtaining blessings temporal, spiritual, and eternal for their Children. Abrahams prayers for Ishmael prevailed farr, and his prayers for Isaac prevailed further. Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee, and God said, as for Ishmael I have heard thee, behold I have blessed him, but my Covenant will I establish with Isaac, especially if Parents pray in faith. As sometimes a father hath a particular Faith for such a Child. As to those that have much communion with God, and know much of his mind, many times it is so, that a believing Parent can say, as for such a Child I know he shall be blessed and made a blessing. I have surely prevailed with God for him. As Isaac said of Jacob, Gen. 27. 33. I have blessed him, and he shall be blessed, so a godly Parent can sometimes say, such a Child of mine, Christ hath blessed him, yea, and he shall be blessed for ever. Now this is a great encouragement to Children, that Prayer and Faith hath been acting for them. Yea, that a Stock of prayers hath been laid up for them. Is it not a great encouragement unto a Child, when he can say, my gracious Father hath carried my Name before God in secret many a thousand time, even every day and night since I was born into the world? certainly these prayers shall not fall to the ground.

5. Such Children have blessed Examples set before them. Now that's a great advantage. That wiseSeneca Heathen could say, plus vivitur exemplis quam praeceptis. Examples will do more then precepts, upon p. 12young ones especially. A Father that walketh with God may say to his Children as Paul to the Corinthians, unto whom he was a spiritual Father, 1 Cor. 4, 15, 16. In Christ Iesus I have begotten you through the Gospel, wherefore I beseech you be you followers of me. And again, Chap. 11. 1. Be you followers of me, even as I also am of Christ. So may a Father that walketh before God as he ought to do, say to his Children, observe my Example, and follow me as I follow Christ. Or as the same Apostle said to Timothy thou hast known my Doctrine and manner of life, 2 Tim. 3. 10. Timothy was intimate with Paul, and therefore doubtless knew more of his secret way of walking and Communion with God, then was known or imagined by the World, so do Children observe more of their Parents holy course of life, then others do, which is no small advantage. A Child is witness of his Fathers Zeal, Faith, Patience; he seeth that his Father is conscientious and holy, and much in prayer to God. Now what an advantage is this? He needs not go farr to see how he ought to walk and please God, for he seeth it before his eyes every day, by the Example and Copy his Father sets before him. Moreover, it is a great encouragement unto the Child of a godly Parent, when he can think and say, my Father did serve God and the Lord accepted of him, therefore if I serve God, he will accept of me. My Father did repent and believe, and walk in the way of holiness, God blessed him and his Family; therefore if I walk in the steps of my Fathers faith and obedience, the God of my Father will bless me and mine for ever.

6. The Children of wicked men fall under heavy curses and Threatnings; therefore they are godly mens Children unto whom peculiar encouragements to seek the Lord do appertain; As for wicked transgressors p. 13they are cursed not only in their persons but in their posterity, even cursed in the fruit of their body, Deut. 28. 15. The house (i. e. Children) of the wicked shall be overthrown, Prov. 14. 11. The Seed of evil doers shall never be renowned, prepare slaughter for his Children, for the iniquity of his Fathers, Isai. 14. 20, 21. It is true, that if a Child do unfeignedly repent and turn of God, though his parents should have been never so wicked, God will accept of him; The repenting Son shall not be damned meerly for his Fathers iniquity, Ezek. 18. 14. But it is more rare for such Children ever to repent; and if they do not repent they shall be punished for their Fathers and Mothers sins as well as for their own, because they justify them by doing like them. How many Examples are there recorded in the Scripture of Gods punishing Children with their Parents and because of their sin? So Achans Children, and Dathan's and Abiram's; yea, millions of Children that were drowned and damned with their cursed Parents in Noahs flood; and when Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed, not only the Parents, but the Children perished, and now suffer together the vengeance of Eternal fire; and was not an express charge given concerning the little ones of the Amalekites, Midianites, &c. that they should be destroyed with their Fathers? thus doth the Lord recompence the iniquity of the Fathers into the bosome of the Children.

7. We find in the Scripture that the Children of holy men have been encouraged from this consideration, that they were so related to such as had a special Interest in God.—So Jacob, Gen. 31. 5. The God of my Father hath been with me, and ver. 42. except the God of my Father and fear of Isaac had been with me, and Chap. 32. 9. Jacob said, O God of my Father Abraham, and God p. 14of my Father Isaac. He was greatly encouraged in looking up to God from that very consideration, that the Lord was the God of his Father, and God of his Grand-Father. So Moses, Exod. 18. 4. The God of my Father was my help, and delivered me from the Sword of Pharaoh, and David, Psal. 116. 16, O Lord truly I am thy Servant; I am thy Servant, the Son of thy Handmaid. Inasmuch as his mother was a pretious godly woman, he was encouraged to plead his Interest in God. So Solomon; 1 King. 8. 57. The Lord our God be with us, as he was with our Fathers, let him not leave us nor forsake us. Inasmuch as the Lord was their fathers God, Solomon and the Lords people with him had their hearts drawn forth to hope that he would be their God also, so as never to forsake them. And Daniels heart was enlarged in giving praises to God since he could say, I thank thee O thou God of my Fathers who hast given me wisdome. Dan. 2. 23.

These things then make it evident that such children are under peculiar encouragement to seek the Lord.

ƲSE. 1 Hence it is a great mercy to be born and brought up under godly Parents. Though some make a light matter of it, like Esau that said, what good shall thisSee Dr. Tuckney on Phil. 3. 8. p. 66, 67, 68.Phil 3:8 birth-right doe me, he despised his birth-right; but the things mentioned make it appear to be a mercy indeed. To be under the wing of the Covenant, though but as to the external dispensation of it, is in it self a mercy. To have the means of grace vouchsafed, (which is ever wont to follow upon a covenant interest in God) is mercy: Wherefore the Apostle having propounded that Question, What advantage hath the Jew above the Gentile? maketh Answer, much every way, chiefly in that to them is committed the Oracles of God. Rom. 3. 2. Next unto Christ and the Spirit of grace, the blessed Bible is the p. 15greatest gift that ever was bestowed on the world; now this the children of godly Parents are wont to enjoy; Timothy being descended from a godly mother and grand-mother, even from a child knew the Scriptures, 2. Tim. 3. 15. To enjoy the word and Ordinances of God publickly dispensed is a great mercy; it is therefore mentioned as such a blessing as is enough to make amends for many sorrows and afflictions, Thine eyes shall behold thy Teachers, Isai. 30 20. This is wont to be the portion of godly mens Children. And to have the benefit of private instructions, admonitions, exhortations is a great mercy; Solomon confesseth that his Father and his mother taught him good doctrine: Prov. 4. 2. It was good because for his everlasting benefit and advantage. Nor are the children of godly men without this benefit, Psal. 34. 11. Come you children hearken unto me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. It is a great mercy to be taught and principled in the fear of God, and that betimes; to be told of the evil of sin, the infinite danger of dying in a natural unconverted estate, the necessity of obtaining an interest in Christ, and to be directed in the right way to Salvation. Also to be the subjects of much prayer is great mercy; it is mentioned concerning Solomon as a special favour God would vouchsafe to him, Psal. 72. 15. Prayer shall be made for him continually. Thus concerning the children of the Lords people, the publick prayers of the Church reach them, and their godly par…nts are daily praying for them; so that prayer is made for them continually. Moreover, such children experience outward blessings and preservations for their parents sake. It is said concerning him that feareth God, His children shall find a place of Refuge, Prov. 14. 26. And the Lord said to Abraham concerning Ishmael, Gen. p. 1621. 13. I will make a nation of him because he is thy seed. v. Manasseh, Ben. Israel Concil. p. 43. in Gen.And God spared Solomon for his Father David's sake,—1 King. 11. 34. And as for Jehoram all his Children were destroyed save one, and that one had been cut off too, had it not been for the respect which the Lord did bear to his blessed fore-Father. 1 King. 8. 19. Yea, and such Children have a greater blessing with that outward state which God in his Providence shall see meet to cast upon them, then the Children of wicked men usually have; Though it may be they have not so much of the World as some others, yet since what they have was gotten in a way of righteousness, a blessing cometh along with it; for this cause David saith, A little that a righteous man hath is better then the riches of many wicked. Psal. 37. 16.

ƲSE. 2 Hence we ought to nourish hope concerning such Children, and that above what can be said with respect unto the Children of other Parents. But some one may object and say, have not good men bad Children, godly men ungodly Children? how then is there ground of hope with respect unto such Children in peculiar wise? Answ. This is sadly true sometimes; the most high to shew the So…eraignty of his grace, sometimes chuseth some of the Children of a wicked Parent, and refuseth some of a godly Parent; Also to shew that it is not in the power of men to give grace, no not in the power of godly men, so much as to their own Children; sometimes such Children prove very unlike unto their godly Parents. It was therefore said to Samuel, thy Sons do not walk in thy wayes, 1 Sam. 8. 5. And that prophane Jehojakim how unlike was he to his blessed Father Josiah? It is noted concerning Josiah, that when the word of God was read to him, he rent his Clothes, humbled himself, and was afraid of the p. 17Lords holy displeasure; but Jehojakim after three or four leaves were read, he took his pen knife, and cut the Roll in pieces, and burnt it in the fire, he was not afraid, nor rent his garments. Jer. 36. 23, 24. Yet this is further to be added and considered, that when the Children of good men are unlike their Parents in grace and holiness, it proceeds not from any unfaithfulness in the blessed God as to his Covenant with such Parents, or with their Children, for

1. Vsually it is some evill in such parents (though otherwise godly) which the Lord doth punish in their children, Either they are not so diligent in teaching and instructing them as they ought to be; If we must judge all those parents ungodly whose children are miserably instructed, I am certain that many amongst us, who have a name to live, and would be thought to have the root of the matter in them, will be found amongst the ungodly. Or Parents are sinfully indulgent towards their children; so was Eli; indeed he instructed them, told them of the evil of those wayes they walked in, and exhorted them to reform, but he corrected and restrained them not; Isaac was too indulgent towards his profane Esau; so was David towards Absolom, that afterwards proved a Rebel, rising up in arms against his own Father; and he did sinfully indulge Adonijah; the Scripture taketh notice of it, that his Father had not displeased him at any time in saying why hast thou done so? 1 King. 1. 6. No wonder he came to such an unhappy end, for usually such children are first or last a shame to the Father that begat them, and bitterness to the mother that bare them. Or it may be parents doe not pray and believe for their children as they ought to doe: God in this case sometimes saith unto parents, according to your saith be it done unto you. If you pray much, and p. 18believe much for your children, you shall obtain much mercy from the Lord for them. Psal. 33. last.

2 Many times the children of godly men are like their parents. In some godly Familyes all the children of the family are made partakers of converting saving grace. So in Jacobs Family; there is reason to believe that his twelve sons did repent before they died, and that they are now in heaven, considering that they were Types of the Elect of God, and their names were written upon the breast of the high priest, when he entred into the Holy of Holyes. So concerning Jobs children; the Scripture saith, that after the death of his children and the loss of his estate, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before, yet he had but ten children after that, which was the number he had before, wherefore Interpreters probably conclude that his other children were not lost; they might all goe to heaven notwithstanding the sad and sudden death which befel them. And experience confirmeth the truth of this, we see that in some families God is pleased to bestow converting grace upon all the children therein; especially if their parents be very much in prayer to God for them. I remember I once heard an holy praying man say, my father had six children, and they are all either with Christ, or in Christ; and he hath given me six children, three of them are already with Christ, and the other (I bless his name) are in Christ. And I have read ccv. Full filling of Scripturesof one who held much communion with God, that once said to an intimate friend, I have this day abtained mercy from God not only for my self, but for all mine, andP. 442. evident signs of regenerating grace did afterwards appear in all his Children.

3. God is wont to remember and establish his covenant with some of the children of his Servants p. 19however; if not to all, yet with some of them. It is commonly seen that as for wicked Parents though they have many Children they are all ungodly like their Parents; but it is seldome known that if a godly man hath many Children that they all prove wicked; first or last God converts some of them. If there be an Ishmael in Abrahams Family, there is also an Isaac; if there be an Esau in Isaac's Family, there is also a Jacob; if there be an Absolom in Davids Family, there is also a Solomon; nor ought we to doubt, but that Nathan and many more of Davids Children are now in Heaven, albeit three of them perished.

4. If the Lord cast off the immediate Seed, he remembers his Covenant to others that are more remote. Esau was hated, yet it is conceived by learned men that Job and his godly friends were of Isaacs[d] Voetius disp. de Gentilisme. p. 603 posterity by Esau. Samuels son Joel was not like his Father, but his grand-child Heman was an excellent Prophet like his blessed grand-Father; yea, and many of Samuels great grand-Children, were faithful Ministers in the house of God, 1 Chron. 6. 33. and 25. 5, 6. The Lord hath sometimes cast off a few generations, and yet at last remembers his Covenant made with blessed Ancestors; Jer. 31. 17. There is hope in thine end, (h. e. as to after generations there is hope) saith the Lord, that they Children shall come again to their own border. There is then cause to nourish hope concerning such Children; there is so with respect to succeeding generations in New-England; Albeit there is doleful degeneracy appearing in the face of this generation, and no man can say, but that the body of the present generation will perish both temporally and eternally, yet there are some that the Lord will remember his Covenant with, even a remnant according to Election that shall be saved p. 20We may say of New-Englands Children (many of them) as the Apostle speaketh concerning the Jews, however the case may be with them at the present, they are beloved for their Fathers sake, Rom. 11. 28.

ƲSE. 3 Hence Parents should be careful how they app…ove themselves for their poor Childrens (as well as for their own) sake. There are especially three things that Parents should be careful about for their Childrens sake.

1. That they be in a state of grace themselves; that they have a special and saving Interest in God. As David said to his son Solomon, 1 Chron. 28. 20. The Lord God, even my God will be with thee; So if you can, upon good grounds say, the Lord is my God, you may the better hope that he will be with your Children. If you be indeed righteous in the sight of God, it will be your poor Childrens advantage; Psal. 37. 25. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his Seed begging bread. But if you be unconverted, and Christless, what a case are your Children in? That if they be in any distress, they have a Father that cannot pray for them, or if he do, his prayers find no acceptance with God, because they proceed from one that hath not an interest in Heaven; Remember that Scripture, Deut. 5. 29. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my Commandments alwayes, that it might be well with them, & with their Children for ever; plainly intimating that if Parents truly fear God, their children shall fare the better for it; Yea, let me tell you, that then if any of them dye in their Infancyes, eeSee Mr Whiston's primitive practice of Infant Baptisme.you need not doubt of their Salvation, Deut. 30. 19. Thou and thy Seed shall live. God having taken your Children into a Covenant of life, if they never break that Covenant, shall they not live for ever? yea, they shall live for ever.

p. 212. Parents should be careful what opinions they embrace. For oftentimes the poison of a corrupt opinion in the Father proveth ban…ful to the Child; As Naamans Leprosy went down from Generation to Generation, so the plague of spiritual Leprosy in the Head, is sometimes propagated from the Father to the Son.

3. Parents should be careful of their conversation; because their Children are apt to follow their Example, especially in that which is evil. As it's noted of Ahaziah, that he walked in the way of his Father and of his Mother, 1 King. 22. 52. And of those superstitious persons, 2 King. 17, 41. They served their graven Images, both their Children, and their Childrens Children; as did their Fathers, so do they, to this day. If the Father follow superstitious or prophane practices, it is most likely that the Children will do so too; Therefore you that are Parents, in the fear of God look to it, that you do not scandalize your Children by an evil Example; If your Children see you in drink sometimes, will not they be drunkards too? If they hear you swear, will not they swear also? if they see you careless in the observation of the Sabbath, will not they likewise be guilty of Sabbathbreaking? And if they see you live in the neglect of holy duties, no prayer in the Family, how shall they be seekers of God? It will be a wonder if such Children do not prove Athiests, that are brought up in Familyes, where they never see any prayer, or acknowledgement of God. O think with your selves, if you that are Parents should any of you perish, and your miserable Children follow you to hel…, how will they curse you there? If thy Children perish through thy evil Example, they will follow thee up and down in the ever burning Lake, crving out, ffSee Mr. Bolton of walking with God. p. 249.Woe to us, that ever we were born of such Parents! p. 22that had no grace to teach us the wayes of God, and lead us in the paths of godliness; If you that were our Parents, had discharged your duty towards us, we might have been in the Joyes of Heaven, but now our damned Souls must live for ever in these everlasting flames; Thus wilt thou hear thine own Children yelling in thine Ears, world without end; Canst thou think of this, and thy heart not break? then thy heart is an Adamant, and thy heart strings made of Iron sinews.

ƲSE. 4 Of Exhortation,

1. Let godly parents that are here before the Lord this day, fuffer the word of Exhortation, Doe you endeavour to the utmost of your power, that your children may become seekers and servants of the only true God in Jesus Christ. And indeed when you present them to the Lord in Baptism, you promise to doe your utmost, that they may become faithfull Servants of that God who is Father, Son and Spirit; take heed that you doe not become guilty of violating that Ingagement. God hath committed Children unto you, that so you might bring them up for him, The children which thou hast borne unto me, Ezek. 16. 20. If a man had the children of a Prince or great man committed to his care and charge for education, would he not be carefull about that matter? It is a solemn thing, which it may be you have not duly considered, that the great God hath entrusted you with those that are his children, that so you may nurse them up for him: O then bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It is not enough for Parents to serve the Lord themselves, but they must use utmost endeavours that after they are dead, their children may walk in the wayes of God. And if they be duly carefull in that matter, they have reason to expect, that God p. 23will remember and establish his covenant with their Children. For it is noted concerning Abraham, that his care was that his Family after him (viz. after he should cease to be in the world) might keep the way of the Lord, and so did the Lord bring upon him the thing which he had spoken, and graciously promised with respect to Abrahams posterity. And in special you that are mothers have a great advan…age put into your hands, to be instilling ggSee Mr. Firmins real Christian. p. 8.good principles into your childrens souls betimes; Solomons mother taught him: we doe not read that Absaloms and Adonijahs mother taught them, as Bathsheba did her son Solomon. And it is not for nothing, that when children have proved thus or so, particular notice is taken in Scripture, that such or such were their mothers: Rehoboam did not prove well, and it is noted that his mother was an Ammonitess. On the other hand, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, Josiah were eminent Servants of God, and the Scripture doth mention who were their mothers. O then you that are mothers should endeavour that your Children (as Luther speaketh) may suck in Religion from their mothers breasts.

And let all godly parents earnestly seek unto the Lord for their poor children: You ought to doe so daily and particularly, and by name before the Lord and thus should you doe every day: as we read concerning Job, that he offered burnt offerings for his Children, according to the number of them all, thus did Job continually. Job. 1. 5. Remember that you are under peculiar encouragement so to doe: if the Children of godly parents have special encouragement to seek the Lord, then the same thing must needs be true concerning such parents themselves, with respect to their Children. And it is eminently true with respect to the children of New-England p. 24inasmuch as they are the posterity of such as have been sufferers on the account of the name and truth of the Lord Jesus. Are not such parents pronounced blessed twice over? Mat. 5. 11, 12. even blessed in themselves, and in their posterity? Who knoweth but God may remember the kindness of the fathers in these Churches (who followed him into this wilderness whilst it was a land not sown) unto their children after them? Plead it with the Lord; if you that be godly parents lay up a stock of prayers for your children, it may stand them in more stead then if you should leave them never such an inheritance, as to the things of the world, when you are dead your prayers shall live. There is many a child whose father and mother is now in heaven, that fareth the better, and will doe so for ever, on the account of prayers made for him by his blessed parents while they were in this world. And this further let me say for your encouragement, that if the Lord stir up your hearts to be importunate with him, for your children, it is a sign that God intends mercy to them. That instance of Monica, Austins gracious mother is known and famous; when she made her complaint and wept to a faithfull Minister because her son did for the present follow ungodly courses and Companions; hhvade a me (inquit) ita vivas. Fieri non potest ut filius istarum Lachri…arum pereat. August. Confess. L. 3. Cap. 12.Be of good comfort (said that holy man) for it cannot be that a Child of so many prayers and tears should perish.

Say not, Oh! but I have prayed, and yet see no answer to my prayers! Well! but continue seeking to the Lord still; despair not of a good answer at last. That famous Mr. Rogers of Dedham, would sometimes say, If I see a child that hath either a Godly father or a godly mother, I shall have p. 25hope for him a long time, but if he hath a godly Father and Mother too, Ile never leave hoping for him until I see him turned off the Gallows.

2. Let me direct my Exhortation to the Children of Godly parents: There are many such that hear me this day: Be you exhorted to know and serve and seek the God of your Fathers.

Consider therefore,

1. That the Lord is your Fathers God. Know the God of thy Father, saith David. Prov. 27. 10. Forsake not thy Fathers friend. And wilt thou forsake thy fathers God, who is the best friend that ever thy Father had? Children are loth to part with other things because they were their Fathers; As Naboth said▪ concerning his vineyard, God forbid that I should part with the inheritance of my Father. 1 King. 21. 3. The Lord was the inheritance of thy Father, and wilt thou let goe thy interest in him? Remember and consider that Scripture, Exod. 15. 2. The Lord is my Fathers God, and I will exalt him. So say thou, the Lord is my Fathers God, and therefore I will fear & seek and serve him.

Consider. 2. The good & benefit that will follow upon a sincere seeking to the Lord. If there were nothing more to be said, but only this, it should be a prevailing Motive, viz. That then your parents will have joy in you; A wise son (i. e. a godly son) maketh a glad father. The Apostle John hath such an expression as this, I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth. 3. Joh. 4. Nor is there any greater joy to a godly Father, then to see truth of grace in his children; this comforts him more than to see that his Children are become rich or great in the world. Know also for your encouragement, that if you seek unto the Lord with your whole heart, He will be found of you: Yea, though your sins and p. 26provocations have been never so great: was there ever a greater Sinner then Menasseh, the son of blessed Hezekiah, Yet when he besought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his Fathers, and prayed unto him, he was entreated of him. 2. Chro▪ 33. 12, 13. O think of it, you that, though the children of holy parents, have been hainous sinners before the Lord, seek him sincerely, and he will pardon all your sins, and save your so…ls from eternal death. I remember I have read concerning the iiImperial▪ Hist. p, 223.Emperour Otho the 2d. that having a son whose name was Luitolp an haughty young man, that rebelled against his Father, and for safety betook himself to the City of Mentz, which being beseiged by the Emperour, Luitolp fled to another place; and on a day when his Father was in the field, his son unexpectedly came to him and kneeling before his father, humbly begged for pardon, with tears acknowledging his offences, and that he was worthy of a thousand deaths; but if it would please him to give him his life, he should ever be a loyal and obedient son for the time to come▪ presently his Fathers bowels …erned over him, and he restored that prodigal son to his former place and dignityes, who ever after approved himself as became a loyal Subject and dutifull Son. How much more will the blessed God pardon you, and accept you into his favour, all your Rebellions notwithstanding, if indeed you humbly and sincerely seek unto him? Yea and God will bless you when your Parents shall be taken from you; he will then be a father to you. Psal. 27. 10. When my Father and my mother forsake me, the Lord will take me up, viz. as a tender hearted father taketh u… his child into his arms, and beareth him in his bosome. It is therefore said concerning the just man, that his Children are blessed after him. p. 27Prov. 20. 7 And Jacob told his Sons that though he died, God would be with them, Gen. 48. 21. It is also noted concerning Isaac, that God blessed him after the death of bis Father Abraham. Gen. 25. 11. Not but that the Lord blessed him before that, only after his Fathers death, the blessing of the Lord was upon him more then ever.

Consider, 3. The evil that is in your not seeking the Lord. What a grief of mind will this be to your godly Parents? The Father of a fool hath no joy. Alas! there is many a poor parent may say to their Children, as Jephtah upon another account spake to his daughter, Judg. 11. 35. He rent his cloa…hes, and said, alas my daughter, thou hast brought me very low, thou art one of them that trouble me. Why should you bring your Parents down with sorrow to their graves? How did it go to the heart of David, when Absolom dyed, and was cut off in his sins? 2 Sam. 18. 33. He was much moved, and as he went, thus he said, O my Son Absolom, my Son, my Son Absolom, would God I had dyed for thee, O Absolom, my Son, my Son. As if he had said, had I dyed, my Soul had been happy, but now thou art dead, I have no other hope but that thy Soul is suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Remember that this will aggravate your sin, and condemnation, that you were born of godly Parents, and did not walk in their steps, Jer. 50. 7. They sinned against the hope of their Fathers; it is mentioned as the great aggravation of their sin. Such Children roll reproach upon the Covenant of God; they cause men to say, there is nothing in being in Covenant with God, nor is it any mercy to be born of Parents that fear the Lord; And will not the Lord judge you for causing such a vile reproach to be cast upon his holy Covenant? you will be most inexcusable before the Lord another day; If a righteous p. 28man beget a Son that becometh a Robber, or an Adulterer, shall he live? he shall not live, but dye, and his blood shall be upon him, Ezek. 18. 10, 13. The blood of thy Soul shall be upon thy own head; All the instructions, Exhortations, Admonitions, Prayers, Examples of thy godly Parents, will b… brought in as so many witnesses for thy condemnation at the last day; yea, the tears of thy blessed Parents will be as oyl to make the everlasting flames of hell burn the more vehemently upon thy Soul, throughout the dayes of Eternity; The Lord will cast thee off for ever; Thy Father that begat thee, thy Mother that bare thee, will not pitty thee when thou shalt be sentenced to eternal Death at the last day. Remember Dives; In hell he lift up his eyes being in Torments, and cryed, Father Abraham! have mercy on me; but all the mercy his Father Abraham would shew to him, was, he said, Son, remember that in thy life time thou hadst thy good things; As if he had said, nay, thou art justly dealt with. So will thy Parents say to thee, Remember that in thy life time we instructed thee, and thou hadst good counsel given to thee many a time, but thou wouldest not regard it. Oh consider of it! yea know, that if thou dyest in thy sins, thy godly Parents will stand forth, & testifie against thee, before the Lord Jesus, at the last day; As that blessed man Mr. Bolton, would sometimes solemnly profess to his Children▪ kkSee Mr. Boltons life.Children, let any of you meet me at the day of Judgement, in an unregenerate Christless estate if you dare, I will then testify against you before the Lord. Yea, thy gracious Parents will joyn with the Lord Jesus, in passing a Sentence of Eternal Condemnation upon thee; We read in the book of Revelation, how the Saints say, Hallelujah, our God hath judged the great whore, Righteous are his Judgements, and when the smoke p. 29of her Torment rose up for ever and ever, they worshipped God, and said, Amen, Hallelujah; Even so, when the Son of God shall say to thee, depart thou cursed wretch into Everlasting Fire, thy Father will say, Amen, Lord Jesus! This is the Son, this is the daughter, that I so often instructed and warned, and told them if they did not repent of sin, and get an interest in Christ, they should certainly perish for ever, but they would not hear, therefore let thy Justice be glorified for ever in their eternal confusion▪ O what an heart hast thou, if this break it not? Nevertheless,

Consider, 4. There are many Children of godly Parents to be seen, that do not seek the Lord God of their Fathers. Yea, how many such are there in New-England, that are not of their Fathers principles? If a Temptation should come it is to be feared, that the greatest part of this Generation would comply, and disown that cause which their Fathers suffered for. How many that are not of their Fathers Spirit; not heavenly minded, but pursuing worldly Interests with their whole hearts; Nor zealous for God, and his glory, but lukewarm, and wofully indifferent in the matters of Religion; Nor in practice and conversation like their Fathers; Not of an holy girt conversation, but loose and vain, & vile and vitious; Swearers, Gamesters, given to rioting and drunkenness, Chambering and wantonness! Nay, how many are there before the Lord in this Congregation, that never fought the God of their Fathers, even to this day? Some that never prayed in their lives, or never in earnest; You Children, it may be you say a prayer, a few words that you have been used to, but are you in earnest? do you cry to God as for your lives? do you take the Kingdome of Heaven by violence? O but few such!

p. 30Consider, 5. You know not how soon your finding time may be past and gone, therefore now seek the Lord; up and be doing, lest thy Sun go down at Noon, and God make the day dark over thy Soul. Dost not thou know that the Lord useth to make quick work with the Children of his Servants, when they will not seek him, albeit they have been brought up under the solemn warnings of God? It may be he will give thee up to a reprobate sense, and his Spirit for ever cease striving with thee; then woe woe be to thee, saith the Lord. Remember how it was of old: when the Sons of God, (even the posterity of godly Seth) the posterity of eminent professors of Religion, did degenerate, God said his Spirit shall strive no longer with them, Gen. 6. 3. my Spirit shall not alwayes strive. Or death may come upon you; How many young men that have fallen down slain of late? The Sword is raging, and how are they that are of the rising Generation numbred for the Sword? Deadly Arrows are flying over your heads, yea, death is climbing in at windows, and carrying away young men apace; now if death overtake thee before thy Soul be got into the City of refuge, it had been good for thee never to have been born; It will be too late to seek the Lord then; If thou shouldest then seek him early, thou canst not find him; When once the gates of death are shut upon thee, and thou locked fast under the bars of the pit; When once thy Soul is out of thy body, in a moment it shooteth the Gulf of Eternity, and then though thou shouldest seek and cry till Heaven and Earth shakes, and pray, and weep Seas of tears of blood, all will be in vain. O thy Soul, thy Soul mustly weltring in a fiery Ocean, as long as the Eternal God shall have any Being! Can thy heart endure to think of this? No! O then seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near. p. 31Something let me speak by way of Direction. briefly▪

1. Be thankfull to the Lord in that he hath given you to be born of godly parents: in that you have been (as David speaketh) cast upon the Lord from the womb And he hath been your God from your mothers belly. Psal. 22. 10. You might have been born of such Parents as would have nursed you up in ignorance, profaness or idolatry, and so your souls have been under a necessity of perishing for ever, but the Lord hath given you to be of parents that have designed you for God, and for his glory. Yea it was for your sakes especially that your Fathers ventured their lives upon the rude waves of the vast Ocean. Was it not with respect unto posterity, that our Fathers came into thi… wilderness? that they might train up a generation for Christ: Bless God that ever you had such Fathers.

2. Plead the Lords g…acious Covenant with him, he is very willing that you should doe so: Ask me concerning my sons and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. Isa 45. 11. You say you cannot give grace to your own Souls. True▪ But hath not the Lord in the Covenant of grace said, I will give you a new heart. Ezek. 36. 26. Plead that Promise, you especially that have had the Covenant sealed to you; why should you let your Baptism lye by you, as if it were of no use? Go to God in secret, and say, Lord thou hast promised to give a new heart to the children of thy Servants, & thy Covenant hath been sealed to me in my Baptism; Oh give me a new heart.

3. Doe not rest in any thing that is external: Not in your relation to godly parents, & visible relation to God on that account; it is not your parents seeking unto God will save you, except you seek him your selves also. Did not the Lord say to the children of Israel, Are ye not as the children of Aethiopians unto me? Amos. 9. 7.

p. 32They vainly trusted, that no destruction should ever come upon them, because they were descended from blessed Ancestors. You may be as far from eternal salvation as the Children of Ethiopians for all that, if you do not serve the God of your Fathers. Therefore John Baptist said, Think not to say, we have Abraham for our Father, Math. 3. 9. I have kno…n some that have been so foolish as to think they should be saved, only because they were the Children of godly Parents, though they lived in the neglect of God, & of their own Souls. Beware of so perverting the Truth delivered unto you. And rest not in being outwardly civil and blameless; was not Paul so before his Conversion, Phil. 3. 6. And they that have been advantaged with a religious Education, oftentimes are so, though never truly converted. Beware also of taking up a form of godliness without the power of it. O you that are the Children of godly Parents, if you outwardly observe the Sabbath day, and pray in secret, and read the Scriptures, (all which things I charge you in the Name of the Lord, that you attend unto them whilst you live) you will be apt to rest here, without an interest in the glorious Righteousness of the Son of God, but for the love of your immortal Souls, I beseech you, deceive not your selves; build not upon a false foundation, look to it, in the fear of God, that your hearts be perfect before him.

4▪ Never leave seeking God until you find him: Seek, and Seek, and Seek again, untill you know that you have obtained a saving interest in Jesus Christ, and in the favor of God through him. O make thorough work of it in the matter of your Conversion, be not almost but altogether Christians; so shall you find that the blessing of all the Prayers, and Covenant of your gracious Parents will come upon you for evermore.

A Discourse Concerning the Danger of APOSTASY, Especially as to those that are the Children and Posterity of such as have been eminent for God in their Generation.

Delivered in a Sermon, preached in the Audience of the general Assembly of the Massachusets Colony, at Boston in New-England, May 23. 1677. being the day of Election there.

By INCREASE MATHER, Teacher of a Church in Boston in New-England.

Jer. 23. 28. He that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.

1 Tim. 5. 21. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect Angels, that thou observe these things, without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

Tit. 2. 15. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all Authority.

Boston, Printed in the Year, 1679.