N00427:63
The present state of New-England. Considered in a discourse on the necessities and advantages…
The present state of New-England. Considered in a discourse on the necessities and advantages of a public spirit in every man; especially, at such a time as this. Made at the lecture in Boston 20.d. 1.m. 1690. Upon the news of an invasion by bloody Indians and French-men, begun upon us. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Two line epigram in Latin]
Boston: printed by Samuel Green, 1690
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.
Deduction. II.
How Sinful, H•w Woeful, How Wicked then are They, that will not forego, what is wors• then Nothing, to Serve the people of God,! If we are to Venture All, what are they who will not Forego Sin, which is worse than Nothing that the people of God may not thereby be Ruined? If we are to Venture a Life, Surely, we are much more to give up a Lust, when the Service of Gods people call us thereunto. We are then, to do, as in Math. 5.29. Pluck out a Right eye, and Cut off a Right Hand which has been Anathematized by the word of God. Let this word reach all the Lewd and Wild Sinners, which it belongs unto. To you be this now declared; The best Service that you can do for the People of God, is▪ To Forsake your Wicked ways, and your Unjust Thoughts, and Return unto the Lord. Most Obdurate, Wretched, Bloody Sinners are you, if you had rather see this Whole People destroyed, than that a Mortification should befall one of your Delicate and Beloved Sins. I am to tell you, That this is the Language of your ⟨p. 28⟩impenitency, and Blush you not? When the Roman Emperor upbraided his General Terrentius, •or the Loosing of a Battle, he replied Sir, I must tell you, that it is you that lost the Day ••r us, by your open•Fighting against the God •f H•av•n as you do. This may •uely be cast in the Te•th of all the Bad Livers in this Place. You that Live without the fear of God, You that Live after a Prayerless and Careless and Profane rate, not having the Fear of God before your Eyes: You are those that every Day do the things, For which the Wrath of God comes. This people of God is now in such Distress and Danger as it never saw before; and I ask not your leave to tell you, That you are the Authors of it all. Tis You, that bring whole Armes of Indians and Gallic Blood Hounds in upon us; tis you that clog all our Counsels with such Delay and Slowness, as terrifies us in our most Rational Expectations. You are perhaps the most Querimonious, and Outrageous of all People, in your Discontents, Why, but your unsbdued Sins are those which breed all our Discontents. These, They are the Accursed Things, which make you the Ahans of the whole Congregation. You often ask, What News? and long to hear of, All Peace. But I say, What Peace as long as your Notorious and allowed Abominations are Continued? Let Them go,