A50162:386
Small offers towards the service of the tabernacle in the wilderness four discourses accommodated…
Small offers towards the service of the tabernacle in the wilderness four discourses accommodated unto the designs of practical godliness : preached partly at Boston, partly at Charleston / by Cotton Mather ; published by a gentleman lately restored from threatening sickness as a humble essay to serve the interest of religion, in gratitude unto God for his recovery.
Boston: printed by R. Pierce, 1689
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.
O Consider, these Terrors of the Lord, and immediately set upon His Praises.
Now that you would come to these Resolutions, before you go from the present Exercise! Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn from following after you; but give me leave to press upon you at least this one Consideration more.
Consider seriously, How exceeding Acceptable it will be to the great God, for such Young persons as you, to set upon praising of Him! Your Praises, they are very much desired by the Lord, and not a little delightful to Him. He declares My soul desires the first ripe Fruit; and He seemed to express as it were some Hast, for the First Fruits under the Law of Old. The Lord in a sort longs to see you serving of Him with the First Fruits of your Age, and of your Praise. He says as in Cant. 2. 14. Let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice. The Voice of your Praises makes a matchless melody in the ears of the God ⟨p. 128⟩that has called for them. The very Chatterings of our infants are pleasant unto us; the Praises and the Devotions of young persons are so unto Our Father which is in Heaven; and he asketh for them with ungainsayable Importunities. 'Twas said unto a young man in 1. Chron. 28. 9. If thou seek the Lord, He will be found of thee, Even so. If thou (that art a young person) praise the Lord he will be pleased with thee. One that owns an Orchard full of many fruitful Trees, will take a most particular and affectionate Notice of a young Tree beginning to have some little Fruit upon it: Our Father is such an Husband man. Young Johns, are they that prove the Disciples whom Jesus loves. Young Josiahs will have special Comforts in this, and special Honours in another world And, ye Hearts of Adamant, are you not yet overcome to resolve, I will now praise and serve the great God! O let not your Answer be, I am almost persuaded; but become Altogether so. As twas said of him, Behold he prays! thus let it be said of you, Behold he praises! How, How can you be deaf Adders before the Charms of these Considerations?