A50163:67
Soldiers counselled and comforted a discourse delivered unto some part of the forces engaged…Souldiers counselled and comforted a discourse delivered unto some part of the forces engaged…
Soldiers counselled and comforted a discourse delivered unto some part of the forces engaged in the just war of New-England against the northern & eastern Indians, Sept. 1, 1689 / by Cotton Mather ...Souldiers counselled and comforted a discourse delivered unto some part of the forces engaged in the just war of New-England against the northern & eastern Indians, Sept. 1, 1689 / by Cotton Mather ...
Boston: printed by Samuel Green, 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.
COUNSELS.
COUNSILS.
By way of Counsel, give me leave to say,
By way of Counsil, give me leave to say,
First, Be sensible that you go forth with your Souls, as well as your Lives in your Hands. That word, A Soul, A Soul! methinks it sounds bigger than a World. A Precious and an Immortal Soul, O 'tis too big a Thing to be thrown away. Think, That you have every one of you, a Soul, which is a Jewel too valuable to be Despised: he is a Fool indeed, of whom it may be said, He Despises his own Soul. Now you are going forth against Indians with your Souls in ⟨p. 24⟩your Hands, pray, be apprehensive that you should not make Indian-Bargains about those Inestimable Souls. The Indians would sell to the Europeans at their first Arrival in the Southern Regions, the best Jewels, and Metals, for a few Glass-beads. Let your Thoughts be, that you have Souls not to be so basely Trucked away; Souls not to be Sold for Songs, whatever the Flesh, the World, or the Devil may sing unto you. It is wholesome Advice, in Prov. 4 20. Keep thy Soul with all Diligence. Consider, That you have Souls, which will stand like Rocks in the Sea of Eternity for ever; and O Consider, What will become of them Souls, if they be not New-born before their Departure hence. There was a profane Soldier, who on One side of his Sword, had a Shape of a God, on the other side the Picture of the Devil, With this Motto under it, Si tu non vis, iste rogitat; If He won't have me, here's One will. Hideous Monster! But this Disjunction is too certain and Awful a Thing to be played withal. If your Souls are not seasonably interested in the Favour of God, they will be seized by those Devils, whose Malice and Fury will inflict worse Tortures on you, than ever the most brutish Indians do in their Executions of their unhappy Prisoners. I beseech you, be not prodiga Gens Animi, or unaffected with the Worth and the State of your own Souls. No, Take the First Opportunity to confess and bewail your many Sins, with a sincere purpose, I will not offend any