N00152:75
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.
2. Let me more particularly exhort, those that have been wicked overmuch. You that have been guilty of great sins ⟨p. 21⟩and provocations before the Lord, O Repent and turn to God in Jesus Christ, Return Return O sinners return return. Stop sinners! stop. go no further, if you love your lives go no further, why should you dye before your Time? It may be Repentance may save your Lives. There have been some that have been guilty of Capital Crimes, yet when they have repented and turned to God in Jesus Christ, He hath covered their sins, that the world hath never known of them. However if there be true Repentance, the lives of your souls shall be saved. In some cases Repentance cannot prevent the first death, but it will always (if sound and sincere) prevent the second death. Oh! then Turn to God in Jesus Christ.
2. Let me more particularly exhort, those that have been wicked overmuch. You that have been guilty of great sins ⟨p. 21⟩and provocations before the Lord, O Repent and turn to God in Jesus Christ, Return Return O sinners return return. Stop sinners! stop. goe no further, if you love your lives goe no further, why should you dye before your Time? It may be Repentance may save your Lives. There have been some that have been guilty of Capital Crimes, yet when they have repented and turned to God in Jesus Christ, He hath covered their sins, that the world hath never known of them. However if there be true Repentance, the lives of your souls shall be saved. In some cases Repentance cannot prevent the first death, but it will alwayes (if sound and sincere) prevent the second death. Oh! then Turn to God in Jesus Christ.
And I would apply this more Particularly unto these poor Guilty Condemned Creatures, 1who are standing in the solemn presence of the Lord, and whose naked souls must by and by appear before God the Judge of all, to receive a Sentence either of eternal Life, or of eternal Death. Hearken you to the word of the Lord this once. I beseech you mind what I say, because you are now come unto your last hour. It may be there are many here this day, that this is the last Sermon, that ever they shall hear, but as for you the thing is Certain, you shall never hear another Sermon; and therefore let these words sink down into your Ears and Hearts.