N00341:101
The greatest sinners exhorted and encouraged to come to Christ, and that now without…
The greatest sinners exhorted and encouraged to come to Christ, and that now without delaying. Also, the exceeding danger of men's deferring their repentance. : Together with a discourse about the day of judgement. And on several other subjects. / By Increase Mather teacher of a church at Boston in N. England. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]
printed by R.P. for Joseph Brunning i.e, 1686
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.
To Direct and Help you here,
1. Practice that great Duty of Self-Examination. Look into thy heart and way, and see if there be not some sin, which thou must of necessity turn from, or dye for it. Some, their Sins are so notorious that they can't but know that they live in sin. Swearers, Sabbath-breakers, Drunkards, unclean persons and such like, they cannot but know that they must Repent or perish. But then there be others, who are of a civil, blameless Conversation before men, and these are more apt to be deceived. But search thy heart, and perhaps thou wilt find that Sin reigns there. It may be there is some sin of Commission which thou livest in, which thy heart delights in. Or some sin of Omission, perhaps thou dost live in the Neglect ⟨p. 61⟩of Prayer from day to day, Lam. 3.40. Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. If men would search impartially, they would be more likely to turn. Alas many do not turn, because they think that work is done already; whenas they have turned only from some sins, and not from all. Take heed left some secret unknown sin which thou art unwilling to see prove the ruin of thy soul. O for the Lords sake be not deceived: And therefore examine your own hearts and estates before the Lord.
1. Practice that great Duty of Self-Examination. Look into thy heart and way, and see if there be not some sin, which thou must of necessity turn from, or dye for it. Some, their Sins are so notorious that they ca'nt but know that they live in sin. Swearers, Sabbath-breakers, Drunkards, unclean persons and such like, they cannot but know that they must Repent or perish. But then there be others, who are of a civil, blameless Conversation before men, and these are more apt to be deceived. But search thy heart, and perhaps thou wilt find that Sin reigns there. It may be there is some sin of Commission which thou livest in, which thy heart delights in. Or some sin of Omission, perhaps thou dost live in the Neglect ⟨p. 61⟩