N00319:13
A sermon (preached at the lecture in Boston in New-England the 18th of the…
A sermon (preached at the lecture in Boston in New-England the 18th 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. ; [Seven lines of quotations]A sermon (preached at the lecture in Boston in New-England the 18th of the 1. moneth 1674. When two men were executed, who had murthered their master) Wherein is shewed that excess in wickedness doth bring untimely death. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church of Christ. ; [Seven lines of quotations]
Boston: printed by R.P. i.e for J. Brunning i.e, 1685
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.
And this Exhortation is urged from the Consideration of the woeful Effect of this overmuch Wisdom and Righteousness viz. Self destruction. Why shouldst thou destroy thy self? As the Moth that will venture too near to the Light, destroyeth it self, so they that will be over-wise, and will needs know more then God would have them to know, destroy themselves.
And this Exhortation is urged from the Consideration of the woful Effect of this overmuch Wisdom and Righteousnes viz. Self destruction. Why shouldst thou destroy thy self? As the Moth that will venture too near to the Light, destroyeth it self, so they that will be over-wise, and will needs know more then God would have them to know, destroy themselves.
2. The other Exhortation is against Errors on the *Left hand; of which there are two mentioned in this verse & in the words which have been read in opposition to the 2 former spoken of in the verse immediately foregoing.
- *Vide Drusis Annot. in locum.
1. Be not overmuch wicked. q. d. though you must not be righteous over-much, yet take ⟨p. 3⟩heed of erring on the other extreme, which our nature is most prone unto. The Hebrew word is [do not wickedly much.] not that the Preacher does allow of any wickedness at all, only his design is to show the evil of all excess in wickedness.