A70554:261
Early piety, exemplified in the life and death of Mr. Nathanael Mather, who ...…
Early piety, exemplified in the life and death of Mr. Nathanael Mather, who ... changed earth for heaven, Oct. 17. 1688 whereto are added some discourses on the true nature, the great reward, and the best season of such a walk with God as he left a pattern of.
London: printed by J. Astwood for John Dunton, 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.
The Evil Days are coming, of which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Old-Age is not a Time for the Service of God to be begun in, or to be delayed unto; Youth, Youth is the only Time.
The Evil Dayes are coming, of which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Old-Age is not a Time for the Service of God to be begun in, or to be delayed unto; Youth, Youth is the only Time.
First, Old-Age is not a proper Time for us to defer the Remembering of God unto. It is an unworthy thing to deal with the God of Heaven so: It is an absurd as well as a wicked thing. The Lord complained of this, in Mal. 1. 13. Ye brought that which was torn, and the lame, and the sick, thus ye ⟨p. 59⟩brought an Offering, should I accept this of your hands, saith the Lord? In like sort, Young Man, is it suitable that the Devil should have the Prime of thy Strength? And that God should be put off with a few lame and sick Devotions after all? Is it suitable that thou shouldst wast all thy very Marrow and Spirit upon thy cursed Idols, but bring unto God a few Torn crazy Howlings, at the last? Should I accept this of your hands, saith the Lord? There is a Story of one who did attempt to Repent in Old-Age, after a Dissolute and ungodly Youth; but heard such a Voice from Heaven as that, Des illi Furfurem cui dedisti Farinam: The Devil had thy Flower, and dost thou think to bring thy Bran to me? In thy Youth wilt thou continue a Traitor and a Rebel against the God of Heaven? And wilt thou imagine to be received and protected by him in the Age, when perhaps thou hast none else to go unto? When thou art scarce able to sin, at thy usual rate, shall that be the only Time for thee to leave it off? Hear O Heavens, and give ear O Earth; was there ever any thing so Disingenuous?
First, Old-Age is not a proper Time for us to defer the Remembring of God unto. It is an unworthy thing to deal with the God of Heaven so: It is an absurd as well as a wicked thing. The Lord complained of this, in