item: #1 of 11 id: A50245 author: Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. title: An apologie of the churches in New-England for church-covenant, or, A discourse touching the covenant between God and men, and especially concerning church-covenant ... sent over in answer to Master Bernard, in the yeare 1639 ... date: 1643 words: 20921 flesch: 65 summary: But sometimes Covenant is taken more strictly and properly , for an agreement which God doth make with men , when he promiseth some blessing unto men , and bin●es them to performe some dutie backe againe to him . But this Covenant was of the whole Church with God , and therefore not like our Chu●ch-Covenants , whi●h are between the Church and the members concerning watchfulnesse over one another , and the like . keywords: answer; christ; church; church covenant; churches; covenant; doe; doth; duties; england; faith; god; gospel; hath; hold; joyning; lord; man; members; men; new; non; people; promise; things cache: A50245.xml plain text: A50245.txt item: #2 of 11 id: A50246 author: Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. title: A catechisme, or, The grounds and principles of Christian religion set forth by way of question and answer wherein the summe of the doctrine of religion is comprised, familiarly opened, and clearly confirmed from the Holy Scriptures / by Richard Mather, teacher to the church at Dorchester in New England. date: 1650 words: 32110 flesch: 90 summary: Q. If the decree of God be unchangeable , then what needs man to be carefull in the use of means for his owne good ? A. Q. Did not man in that state besides this conformty to God enjoy communion with God ? A. keywords: a. god; acts; christ; church; cor; doth; eph; faith; gen; god; heb; iohn; man; mat; men; onely; psal; q. vvhat; rom; sinne; things; tim; vvhat cache: A50246.xml plain text: A50246.txt item: #3 of 11 id: A50248 author: Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. title: A defence of the answer and arguments of the synod met at Boston in the year 1662 concerning the subject of Baptism and consociation of churches against the reply made thereto, by the Reverend Mr. John Davenport, pastor of the church at New-Haven, in his treatise entituled Another essay for investigation of the truth &c. : together with an answer to the apologetical preface set before that essay, by some of the elders who were members of the Synod above-mentioned. date: 1664 words: 80630 flesch: 56 summary: [ That if the Church can have any hope of persons , that they have any thing of Faith and Grace i● them , though never so little , they ought , being adult , to be admitted to full Communion ] this we say will , if followed , bring corruptions and impurities into Churches : for he must abandon all the Rules of Charity , that cannot hope this of multitudes of young persons that grow up among us , who yet if they were presently admitted to full Communion , we should soon feel a change in the management of Church●affairs ; and the Interest of Formality and common Profession , would soon be advanced above the Interest of the power of Godliness . Pag. 24. comparing this with the deep silence of them ●ll touching any such Selectio● in point of Baptism● as to the Children that are born among them : and it is kno●n to be their ordinary practice to Baptize many Children , whose Parents they would not admit to the Lords Supper . keywords: adult; ans; answer; argument; author; baptism; case; childe; children; christ; church; churches; communion; covenant; d ●; discipline; doth; f ●; god; grace; hath; infants; lords; man; members; membership; men; onely; pag; parents; personal; persons; proposition; question; reason; reverend; right; saith; scripture; state; supper; synod; thing; unto; viz; way; ● e; ● n; ● s; ● ● cache: A50248.xml plain text: A50248.txt item: #4 of 11 id: A50249 author: Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. title: A disputation concerning church-members and their children in answer to XXI questions wherein the state of such children when adult, together with their duty towards the church, and the churches duty towards them is discussed by an assembly of divines meeting at Boston in New England, June 4th, 1657 / now published by a lover of truth. date: 1659 words: 11950 flesch: 68 summary: But now for the Particular in Question , If children were then Members of the Church , and now be not , here is an alteration made for the worser , and not for the better , not for our advantage but for our losse ( for so it is , to have all our children put out of covenant and Church , and from all the priviledges thereof , Iosh. A disputation concerning church-members and their children in answer to XXI questions wherein the state of such children when adult, together with their duty towards the church, and the churches duty towards them is discussed by an assembly of divines meeting at Boston in New England, June 4th, 1657 / now published by a lover of truth. keywords: ans; children; christ; church; churches; covenant; faith; god; lords; members; parents; quest cache: A50249.xml plain text: A50249.txt item: #5 of 11 id: A50250 author: Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. title: An heart-melting exhortation together with a cordiall consolation presented in a letter from New-England to their dear countrymen of Lancashire : which may as well concern all others in these suffering times / by Richard Mather ... and William Tompson ... date: 1650 words: 12310 flesch: 61 summary: And indeed we cannot but stand amazed at the free grace of God , and wonder with great admiration at that wise , and gracious , and holy dispensation of divine providence , whereby it comes to passe that such unworthy ones as we be , must be here in a land of peace , to enjoy the many good blessings of God , both for earth and heaven in quiet habitations , when in the mean time it fares full ill , God knows , with the land of our Nativity , and with many thousands therein far better then our selves , whom the Lord hath left after all their other pressures , under which they have formerly groaned , now at last , to see the most dolefull daies that they have ever seen in England , because that formerly-flourishing Kingdom is now wofully at warre within it self , and that sore plague of the devouring sword ( as sore an one as any of the four , which are thus called by the holy Ghost , Ezek. 14.21 . ) hath already devoured much English flesh , and drunk much English bloud ; many hundreds and thousands of all ranks and degrees , both great and small , since these warres begun , having already lost their lives , and ended their daiet in these grievous Nationall calamities , and ( God knows ) how many more may shortly do the like , because for ought we can hear the wrath of the Lord is not yet turned away , but his hand is stretched out still . Sith therefore you have known the judgements of God which he hath brought upon Germany for many years together , and upon Ireland and England of late times : God would be very angry if you should remain impenitent , unhumbled , and unreformed , though you have known all this . keywords: christ; church; day; god; hath; heart; jesus; life; lord; men; righteousnesse; selves; things; time cache: A50250.xml plain text: A50250.txt item: #6 of 11 id: A50251 author: Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. title: The summe of certain sermons upon Genes. 15.6 vvherein not only the doctrine of justification by faith is asserted and cleared, and sundry arguments for justification before faith, discussed and answered : but also the nature and the meanes of faith, with the imputation of our sins to Christ, and of Christs righteousness to us are briefly explained and confirmed / preached at Dorchester in New-England by Richard Mather ... ; and now by him published at the earnest request of sundry well-affected and Godly Christians. date: 1652 words: 26503 flesch: 72 summary: I deny not but sundry of the things here treated of , viz the grace of Faith , Justification by faith , and the Imputation of Christs Righteousness unto justification , are mayn and principall points of christian religion , and such as that the ignorance of them or erroneous apprehentiōs about them can not but be very perilous : in which respect it is the more needfull that the people of God should be established in the belief & love of the truth concerning such points as these are . 6. VVherin Not only the DOCRINE of JUSTIFICATION by FAITH is Asserted and Cleared , And sundry Arguments for IUSTIFICATION before FAITH , discussed and Answered , But Also The nature and the meanes of Faith , with the Imputation of our sins to CHRIST , and of Christs Righteousness to us are briefely Explained and Confirmed . keywords: christ; doth; faith; god; grace; hath; justification; lord; man; men; righteousness; rom; sin; wee; word cache: A50251.xml plain text: A50251.txt item: #7 of 11 id: A55001 author: Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. title: A Platform of church discipline gathered out of the Word of God, and agreed upon by the elders, and messengers of the Churches, assembled in the Synod at Cambridge in New England, to be presented to the churches and Generall Court for their consideration and acceptance in the Lord, the eighth moneth, anno 1649. date: 1649 words: 17865 flesch: 71 summary: For th●…s ●…nd , h●…ng perused the publ●…k confession of faith , agreed uponly the Reverend assembly of D●…ines at 〈◊〉 , & find●…ng the sum●… & su●…stance therof ( in matters of doctrine ) to express not th●… own judgements o●…ly , 〈◊〉 o●…rs also : and being likewise called upon by our godly Mag●…strates , to d●…w up a publick 〈◊〉 of that f●…ith , which is constan●…ly taught , & genera●…y 〈◊〉 amongst us , wee thought good to p●…esent ●…nto them , & with them to our 〈◊〉 , & w●…h them to all the church●…s of Christ abroad , our prof●…ssed & hearty 〈◊〉 & 〈◊〉 to th●… whole 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 faith ( f●…r 〈◊〉 of d●…ctrine ) which 〈◊〉 Reverend 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 H●…nourable 〈◊〉 of Engl●… : Excep●…ing only some 〈◊〉 in the 25 30 & 31. C●…apters of their conf●…ssion , whic●… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of con●…roversie in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ; 〈◊〉 whi●… wee ref●…re our selves to the draught of church-discpline in the ensueing treatise . keywords: acts; christ; church; churches; communion; cor; doe; doth; elders; faith; god; lord; members; officers; powr; t ●; tim; unto; way; wee; word cache: A55001.xml plain text: A55001.txt item: #8 of 11 id: A84357 author: Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. title: Tears of repentance: or, A further narrative of the progress of the Gospel amongst the Indians in New-England: setting forth, not only their present state and condition, but sundry confessions of sin by diverse of the said Indians, wrought upon by the saving power of the Gospel; together with the manifestation of their faith and hope in Jesus Christ, and the work of grace upon their hearts. Related by Mr. Eliot and Mr. Mayhew, two faithful laborers in that work of the Lord. Published by the corporation for propagating the Gospel there, for the satisfaction and comfort of such as wish well thereunto. date: 1653 words: 27287 flesch: 50 summary: Myoxeo also lately met with an Indian , which came from the Mayn who was of some note among them ; I heard that he told them of the great things of God , and of Christ Jesus , the sinfulness and folly of the Indians , the Pardon of sin by Christ , and of a good life ; and so were they both affected , that they continued this discourse two half nights , and a day , until their strength was spent : He told him in particular , how a Beleever did live above the world , that he did keep worldly things alwaies at his feet ( as he shewed him by a sign ) That when they were deminished , or increased , it was neither the cause of his Sorrow , or joy , that he should stoop to regard them , but he stood upright with his heart Heavenward , and his whol desire was after God , and his joy in him . And although as yet our Eyes have never seen it so , nor our Fathers afore us , many Nations and People having hitherto been overspread , and overwhelmed in Pagan Blindness and Ignorance , having scarce ever heard of Christ , or of His Name ; and many others that in some sort have heard of Him , having no more Grace but to make and maintain Opposition against Him , and against His Kingdom , some more professedly , and others more covertly and under fairer pretence , as in the great Dominions of the Turk , and of the Pope , is apparent ; yet the time is coming , when things shall not thus continue , but be greatly changed and altered , because the Lord hath spoken this Word , and it cannot be that his Word should not take effect : And if the Lord have spoken it , his People have good ground and reason to beleeve it , and to say as the holy Apostle in another case , I beleeve God that it shall be even as it was told me , Act. 27. 25. keywords: beleeve; christ; day; desire; god; gods; good; hath; heart; indians; jesus christ; lord; pardon; sins; thought; word; work cache: A84357.xml plain text: A84357.txt item: #9 of 11 id: A88943 author: Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. title: Church-government and church-covenant discussed, in an answer of the elders of the severall churches in New-England to two and thirty questions, sent over to them by divers ministers in England, to declare their judgments therein. Together with an apologie of the said elders in New-England for church-covenant, sent over in answer to Master Bernard in the yeare 1639. As also in an answer to nine positions about church-government. And now published for the satisfaction of all who desire resolution in those points. date: 1643 words: 54810 flesch: 62 summary: 3. An expresse verball covenanting to walke with the said Church in particular , in Church fellowship . And not to depart from the said Church afterward without the consent thereof : or how doe you hold and practise in these things ? 9. Whether doe you hold all , or the most of our Parish assemblies in Old-England to be true Visible Churches of Christ ; with which you may lawfully joyne in every part of Gods true worship ( if occasion served thereto : ) or if not all or the most , then what ones are those of which you so account , and with which you durst so partake or joyne ; and in what respects ? keywords: act; answer; baptisme; children; christ; church; church covenant; church government; church members; church ordinances; church priviledges; churches; company; congregation; consent; cor; covenant; doctrine; doe; doth; england; faith; god; good; gospel; hath; hold; holy; joyning; lawfull; like; lord; man; members; men; ministers; new; owne; people; persons; power; promise; question; reason; right; rule; scripture; things; time; way; wee; word cache: A88943.xml plain text: A88943.txt item: #10 of 11 id: A88947 author: Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. title: A modest & brotherly ansvver to Mr. Charles Herle his book, against the independency of churches. Wherein his foure arguments for the government of synods over particular congregations, are friendly examined, and clearly answered. Together, with Christian and loving animadversions upon sundry other observable passages in the said booke. All tending to declare the true use of synods, and the power of congregationall churches in the points of electing and ordaining their owne officers, and censuring their offendors. By Richard Mather teacher of the Church at Dorchester; and William Tompson pastor of the Church at Braintree in New-England. Sent from thence after the assembly of elders were dissolved that last met at Cambridg to debate matters about church-government. date: 1644 words: 26384 flesch: 62 summary: And if so , then though you may by Church understand the Elders as he did , yet then you must also acknowledge the Independency of particular Congregations and the Pastors thereof ; for it is certain and plain that Mr. Johnson was of that opinion and judgement too , notwithstanding that his Exposition of Matth. 18. and did never reduce himself to this opinion , that Congregations must be dependent upon the Government of Synods , which is your plea . And there might be other means to make their faith famous , as well as plurality of congregations ; as the resort and confluence of people of all sorts and nations to the place where this Church dwelt , Rome being the Seat of the Empire , and the Lady of Kingdomes at that time : Also the good will of the godly , the malice of the wicked , the newfanglednesse of most , would open the mouthes of many to talke of the faith and profession of the Christian Romans , though they were no more but one congregation . keywords: answer; church; churches; congregation; doe; doth; elders; god; government; hands; hath; members; officers; pag; place; power; synod; word cache: A88947.xml plain text: A88947.txt item: #11 of 11 id: A88948 author: Mather, Richard, 1596-1669. title: A reply to Mr. Rutherfurd, or A defence of the answer to Reverend Mr. Herles booke against the independency of churches. VVherein such objections and answers, as are returned to sundry passages in the said answer by Mr. Samuel Rutherfurd, a godly and learned brother of the Church of Scotland, in his boke entituled The due right of Presbyters, are examined and removed, and the answer justified and cleared. / By Richard Macher [sic] teacher to the church at Dorchester in New England. 1646. date: 1647 words: 74311 flesch: 62 summary: doth it follow therefore that Superiors in Church or civill state have no power to command housholders to do their duty herein , but only to give counsell and advise ? Or if housholdere have such right , doth it follow that therefore they are under no command , in Church and Common-wealth ? I suppose it will not follow at all . Or shall we say , that Classes and Provinciall Synods have no right to end their own matters within themselves , if a Nationall Synod have power to command them ? Or if they have such right , shall we therefore say they are not under the command of the Nationall Synod , and that the Nationall Synod hath no power over them but only by way of Counsell and advise ? Wee suppose Master Rutherford will not say so : and yet he might as well say it , as say as hee he doth , that because Antioch hath right to ●nd her own matter if they be able , therefore a Synod hath no power but only by way of Counsell and advise . First , the ordinary power of Iurisdiction because of neerest vicinity and contiguity of members is given by Iesus Christ to one Congregation in an Isle , because that Church is a Church properly so called : It is a little City , and a little Kingdome of Iesus Christ , having within it selfe power of the ●ord and Sacraments and that is a Church and hath the essence of a Church to which agree the essentiall notes of a Church : now Preaching of the word and administration of the Sacraments are essentiall notes of a visible Church : keywords: act; answer; antioch; appeales; bee; brother; christ; church; church power; churches; congregation; doe; doth; elders; generall; god; good; hands; hath; hee; iurisdiction; like; nationall; nature; page; people; place; power; question; reason; right; rutherford; saith; synods; thing; truth; viz; way; words; ● ● cache: A88948.xml plain text: A88948.txt