N00152:57
The wicked mans portion. Or A sermon (preached at the lecture in Boston in…
The wicked mans portion. Or A sermon (preached at the lecture in Boston in New-England the 18th day of the 1 month 1674. when two men were executed, who had murdered their master.) Wherein is showed that excess in wickedness doth bring untimely death. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a Church of Christ. ; [Six lines of quotations]The wicked mans portion. Or A sermon (preached at the lecture in Boston in New-England the 18th day of the 1 moneth 1674. when two men were executed, who had murthered their master.) Wherein is shewed that excesse in wickedness doth bring untimely death. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a Church of Christ. ; [Six lines of quotations]
Boston: printed by John Foster, 1675
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.
Answ. Very true. As there are some that are too wicked to live long, So there are others that are too Good to live long; in such an evil wretched world as this. Jeroboam's godly son, dyed in his youth. Josiah a most eminent servant of the Lord, dyed in the middest of his days. Enoch though the best man, and the best minister of God, in all the world in his time, was taken out of the world before he had lived half so long as men in those days were wont to live, but then it would not be good for them to live any longer. God is only wise and faithful, and therefore he taketh his servants to himself, when he seeth that life will not be best for them.
Answ. Very true. As there are some that are too wicked to live long, So there are others that are too Good to live long; in such an evill wretched world as this. Jeroboams godly son, dyed in his youth. Josiah a most eminent servant of the Lord, dyed in the midde•t of his dayes. Enoch though the best man, and the best minister of God, in all the world in his time, was taken out of the world before he had lived half so long as men in those dayes were wont to live, but then it would not be good for them to live any longer. God is onely wise and faithfull, and therefore he taketh his servants to himself, when he seeth that life will not be best for them.
Besides, • man may live long in a little Time. It is said, the child shall dye an hundred years old. Isai. 65. 20. Though a child in respect of years, yet he shall have the grace, and gravity, the wisdom and knowledge of a man that hath lived an hundred years. And indeed that is most desirable; It is in many respects a great mercy to be freed from the prevailing infirmities of old age, 1and therefore to live long in a little time is most desirable, As I remember Mr. Cotton in an Epistle which he hath Prefixed to one of Mr. Nortons Books, taketh notice if it, with reference to Dr. Preston, that it was his constant desire affectation and expression, that he might live long in a little Time, and the Lord granted him the desire of his heart therein. Some live longer in seven years, then others do in ten times seven years. They do more for God and more for his People in seven years then others do in twenty, forty, threescore, or in fourscore years. Moreover, that promise of long life will be fulfilled to the righteous in the life to come. As indeed all promises (and threatenings too) are fully accomplished in the world to come. There the righteous shall live for ever. It was promised to to Christ, that he should be satisfied with long life.