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A call from heaven, to the present and succeeding generations or A discourse wherein…
A call from heaven, to the present and succeeding generations or A discourse wherein is showed I. That the children of godly parents are under special advantages and encouragements to seek the Lord. : II. The exceeding danger of apostasy, especially as to those that are the children and posterity of such as have been eminent for God in their generation. : III. That young men ought to remember God their creator. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church in Boston in N. England.A call from heaven, to the present and succeeding generations or A discourse wherein is shewed I. That the children of godly parents are under special advantages and encouragements to seek the Lord. : II. The exceeding danger of apostasie, especially as to those that are the children and posterity of such as have been eminent for God in their generation. : III. That young men ought to remember God their creator. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church in Boston in N. England.
Boston: printed by R.P. i.e for I. Brunning i.e, 1685
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Once more, Sinful Company-keeping is an evil that young men are apt to be drawn away from God their Creator by. Many an hopeful young man, that hath been well, instructed, that hath had great Convictions upon his Spirit, and friends that wished him well have been comforted in him; yet hath afterwards fallen in with bad company, & that has proved the eternal ruin of his soul. I have known young men that upon sick-beds and death-beds, have made lamentable cries O my sinful Company-keeping hath undone me for ever! Therefore let young men remember what the Scripture speaketh to them, My son, if sinners entice thee consent thou not. Walk not thou in the way ⟨p. 155⟩of them, refrain thy foot from their path, Prov. 1.10, 15. Again, He that walketh with the wise shall be wise, but a Companion of fools shall be destroyed Chapt. 13.20. Young man, wouldst thou not be destroyed? then be not a companion of Fools. Remember also what David saith, and follow his Example, Psal. 26.4, 5, — 9. I have not sate with vain persons. I have hated the congregation of evil doers & will not sit with the wicked. Gather not my soul with sinners. When thou diest, thou wouldest not have thy soul to be gathered to the place where sinners must be forever; then sit not with them, hold not Familiarity with them now: for they that are thy Companions and thy Familiars here, are like to be so to Eternity.
Once more, Sinful Company-keeping is an evil that young men are apt to be drawn away from God their Creator by. Many an hopeful young man, that hath been well, instructed, that hath had great Convictions upon his Spirit, and friends that wished him well have been comforted in him; yet hath afterwards fallen in with bad company, & that has prov'd the eternal ruin of his soul. I have known young men that upon sick-beds and death-beds, have made lamentable cries O my sinful Company-keeping hath undone me for ever! Therefore let young men remember what the Scripture speaketh to them, My son, if sinners entice thee consent thou not. Walk not thou in the way ⟨p. 155⟩of them, refrain thy foot from their path,