Concerning the Prevalency of Prayer, Title page – To the reader
An HISTORICAL DISCOURSE Concerning the PREVALENCY OF PRAYER Wherein is shewed that New-Englands late Deliverance from the Rage of the Heathen, is an eminent Answer of Prayer.
By INCREASE MATHER Teacher of a Church in Boston in New-England.
Psal. 102. 18.
This shall be written for the Generation to come.
Jam. 5. 17, 18.
Elias was a man subject to like pa…ons as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it rained not on the Ea…th by the space of three years and six moneths; and he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
Preces et Lachrimae sunt Arm… Ecclesiae.
Ambrosius.
Oratio est vi… Deo grata.
Tertul
BOSTON, Printed and sold by John Foster. 1677.
To the Reader.
MY Design in the subsequent Discourse, is not to enumerate all the Particulars which might be mentioned, that doe … vince New-England late Deliverance to be a great answer of Prayer: only to take notice of some more eminent Passages of Divine Providence, whereby it doth appear that the God of our salvation hath answered us by terrible things in righteousn…ss, against our Heathen Adversaryes. There is now cause for an holy Sollicitude lest security should be the effect of these Dispensations▪ lest we should now say, our Mountain is made strong, and we shall never be moved. Howbeit there is little reason for such imaginations, if things be duly laid to heart: we cannot but remember▪ how near this Tree was to cutting down a year or two agoe; but the Lord of the Vineyard hath at the …arn…st intercession of his Servants let it alone …his year also▪ But who can say, how far the Lord may cut and lop & mar our Vine branches before many years be expired? To this day we see not the end of our late bl…eding distresses, and when this day of Trouble shall be over, I for my part, must needs solemnly profess and declare, that I look for another seven times greater, though what it shall be, or how it shall come to pass I cannot t…ll; for I pretend not to any Revelation, beyond what they that diligently compare the Word and Works of God together, may attain unto. It giv…th me not a little that I should so frequently write and speak in s…ch a Strain, but I cannot forbear, the Lord hath spoken, who can but prophesy? There are many Considerations, which are enough to cause sad expectations of some more fatal changes of Providence not far off, but especially these two,
1. There is not a general Reformation in New-England so much as in any one Particular, notwithstanding the Lord hath tryed us by all manner of wayes that may be thought of, even by lesser and greater Judgments, and by signal mercyes and Deliverances: and that which aggravateth our unref…rmedness, is, that in the time of our Trouble we have said, arise, and save us,
2. There are evills prevailing amongst us, which if they be not reformed, the Lords Controversy will not be ended, such as notorious Selfseeking, reigning Pride, shamefull Drunkenness, with the occasions leading thereunto; w…full Apostacy, the blessed Design of our Father… in coming into this wilderness not being minded and attended as ought to be: and a… things are circumstanced, there is no hope that these and other evils should be reformed, untill God arise and shake terribly the Earth. So that nil nisi vota supersunt. On these accounts, it concerns us, to be crying unto the Lord day and night. If wee look abroad upon the face of the earth, in other parts of the world, the Children are come to the birth, & there is not strength to bring forth. We behold foreign the beginning of travailing sorrows, …ven such things as evidence that some great Birth is at hand. And in our Horizon dark Clouds gather apa…e, and the Heavens are covered over with blackness. Surely in these respects▪ we may truly say as sometime that martyr did▪ Pray, Pray, Pray, never more need then now. And considering the blessed Encouragement God hath given us, whatever come on us, l…t us be found so doing.
BOSTON, N-E. August. 16, 1677. Increase Mather.