N00498:6
A midnight cry an essay for our awakening out of that sinful sleep, to…
A midnight cry an essay for our awakening out of that sinful sleep, to which we are at this time too much disposed; and for our discovering of what peculiar things there are in this time, that are for our awakening. In a discourse given on a day of prayer, kept by the North-Church in Boston. 1692. / By Cotton Mather. ; Now published for the use of that church, together with a copy of acknowledgements and protestations made in pursuance of the reformation, whereto we are to be awakened. ; [One line of Latin text]A midnight cry an essay for our awakening out of that sinful sleep, to which we are at this time too much disposed; and for our discovering of what peculiar things there are in this time, that are for our awakening. In a discourse given on a day of prayer, kept by the North-Church in Boston. 1692. / By Cotton Mather. ; Now published for the use of that church, together with a copy of acknowledgments and protestations made in pursuance of the reformation, whereto we are to be awakened. ; [One line of Latin text]
Boston: printed by John Allen for Samuel Phillips, 1692
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 the CHURCH in the North-part of BOSTON.
When the old Pagan Historians tell us the Name […] One, who, they sa•, fe•• into a Sleep, that lasted above Seventy •ears, and when the old Christian Historians […] the Names of Seven, who, they sa•, […] Sleep, for near Two Hundred Years together; we count that we Read, A Fable ▪ But •f I tell you, That the whole World has been generally Asleep for some Thousands of Y•a•s; •nd that particular Professors of R•lig••n in •his Age of the Wo•ld, are ordinarily Asleep •ll their Days, I should therein but […], A Truth, as horrible, as notorious. As for Y•u, […] Dear Cha•ge, the Office which I sustain t• •ards you, is that of a WATCHMAN▪ and in […] Discharge of […] Office, I […] •ut […] your hands, another perpetual INSTRUMENT for your AWAKENING, l•st when our […] comes, He find you Sleeping! I have […] Published it with so much presumption as […] propound therein the Direction of […] Churches. But I have […] a Small Impression, that I may fulfil my promise of […] every one of you, a Copy of this •our Monitor; so that perhaps I may […] of this Book, as […] Philosopher did of his, 'Tis Published, but […] made Public. And now, For-ever Magnified be that Grace of thine, O Lord […] God, which has thus Enabled me to give […] Warnings of a Watchman! may it be […] that they do live, who have been war••d: and that I also have Delivered my own […].
WHen the old Pagan Historians tell us the Name 〈…〉 One, who, they sa•, fe•• into a Sleep, that lasted above Seventy •ears, and when the old Christian Historians 〈…〉 the Names of Seven, who, they sa•, 〈…〉 Sleep, for near Two Hundred Years t•ge•her; we count that we Read, A Fab•e ▪ But •f I tell you, That the whole World has been •enerally Asleep for some Thousands of Y•a•s; •nd that particular Professors of R•lig••n in •his Age of the Wo•ld, are ordinari•y Asleep •ll their Dayes, I should therein but 〈…〉, A Truth, as horrible, as notorious. As for Y•u, 〈…〉 Dear Cha•ge, the Office which I sustain t• •ards you, is that of a WATCHMAN▪ and in 〈…〉 Discharge of 〈…〉 Off•ce, I 〈…〉 •ut 〈…〉 your hands, another perpetual INSTRV•ENT for your AWAKENING, l•st when our 〈…〉 comes, He find you Sleeping! I have 〈…〉 Published it with so much presumption as 〈…〉 propound therein the Direction of 〈…〉 Churches. But I have 〈…〉 a Small Impression, that I may fulfil my p•omise of 〈…〉 every one of you, a Copy of this •our Moni•or; so that perhaps I may 〈…〉 of this Book, as 〈…〉 Philosopher did of his, 'Tis Published, but 〈…〉 made Publick. And now, For-ever Magnify'd be that Grace of thine, O Lord 〈…〉 God, which has thus Enabled me to give 〈…〉 Warnings of a Watchman! may it be 〈…〉 that they do live, who have been war••d: and that I also have Delivered my own 〈…〉.
A midnight Cry.
Made on a DAY of PRAYER; kept by the North-Church in BOSTON.
TIS a passage occurring in the no less Believed than Famous Records of Antiquity. That the Blessed Austin ▪ whi•e he was yet a Stranger to the Blessedness of the New Creature, had that […] from Heaven given unto him Take up an• Read! Take up and Read! And that wh•• thereupon he Took up the Bible […] the place which by the direction of pro•••dence he Read, was the Latter end of […] 13t• Chapter to the Romans. That he […] ▪ Thi• he Read ▪ and it proved the mean […] his bringing home to God.
TIS a passage occurring in the no less Believ'd than Famous Records of Antiquity. That the Blessed Austin ▪ whi•e he was yet a Stranger to the Blessedness of the New Creature, had that 〈…〉 from Heaven given unto him Take up an• Read! Take up and Read! And that wh•• thereupon he Took up the Bible 〈…〉 the place which by the direction of pro•••dence he Read, was the Latter end of 〈…〉 13t• C•apter to the R•mans. That he 〈…〉 ▪ Thi• he Read ▪ and it prov'd the mean 〈…〉 his bringing home to God.
'Tis not by any thing like Chance, but by a Reasonable, and I hope, a Profitable Choice ▪ that a Text from that very Paragraph […] Scripture, i• n•w to be laid before us: […] there be as good success attending of it! […] Advice from Heaven this Day unto us […] Take up and read ▪ and the particul•• Sentence of the Inspired and Unerring Writings, which I must Invite you to Take […] and Read; is that, in ⟨image ?⟩Romans XIII.11. AND THAT KNOWING THE TIME, THAT IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP.
'Tis not by any thing like Chance, but by a Reasonable, and I hope, a Profitable Choice ▪ that a Text from that very Paragraph 〈…〉 Script•re, i• n•w to be laid before us: 〈…〉 there be as good success attending of it! 〈…〉 Advice from Heaven this Day unto us 〈…〉 Take up and read ▪ and the particul•• Sentence of the Inspired and Unerring Wri•tings, which I must Invite you to Take 〈…〉 and Read; is that, in ⟨image ?⟩Romans XIII.11. AND THAT KNOWING THE TIME, THAT IT IS HIGH TIME TO AWAKE OVT OF SLEEP.
IT is the Remark of the Apostle, concerning a Resurrection from the Sleep of DEATH, in 1 Cor. 15.1• […] be not such a thing, then is our Preaching in vain. The same Remark I may, and […] do, make upon a Resurrection from the […] of SIN, Our Preaching is in vain, if such […] do not come to pass.
IT is the Remark of the Apostle, concerning a Resurrection from the Sleep of DEATH, in 1 Cor. 15.1• 〈…〉 be not such a thing, then is our Pre•c•ing in vain. The same Remark I may, and 〈…〉 do, make upon a Resurrection from the 〈…〉 of SIN, Our Preaching is in vain, if such 〈…〉 do not come to pass.
[…] possible, yea, probable, That […] of our Preaching may be the thing […] Almighty God, shall make use, to […] us out of our Sleep; and then […] neither That nor All our Preaching, will […] in vain: An Essay must now be made […] it.
〈…〉 possible, yea, probable, That 〈…〉 of our Preaching may be the thing 〈…〉 Almighty God, shall make use, to 〈…〉 us out of our Sleep; and then 〈…〉 neither That nor All our Preaching, will 〈…〉 in vain: An Essay must now be made 〈…〉 it.
There were two very Different Reports in […] Third Heaven of old, about the Condition of men here in this lower World. One […] that in Zech. 1.11. Behold, the Whole […] sitteth […], and is at R•st; or, Sleeps. another was that in Act. 9.11. Behold, he […]. It will be a sad thing if the Former character must belong unto us, Behold, they […] No, 'Tis the Latter Character whereof ⟨image ?⟩we should be all Ambitious, Behold, they Pray! 'Tis this Day with us, a Day for it. But indeed, the Characters are utterly Inconsistent with, and mutually Destructive of, each other. What has been said of Sinning ▪ may be •aid of S•eeping, which are the same, […] Praying will make us leave Sleeping, […] S•eeping will make us leave P•aying. And for that cau••, […] Day set apart for Praying: a Text which bespeaks, and requires our […] ▪ does now demand our Meditations. On a Sacred Fist we ought Naturally to […] more Sleepless than on another Day; […] on such a Day, we should not […] at […].
There were two very Different Reports in 〈…〉 Third Heaven of old, about the Condi••on of men here in this lower World. One 〈…〉 that in Zech. 1.11. Behold, the Whole 〈…〉 sitteth 〈…〉, and is at R•st; or, Sleeps. •nother was that in Act. 9.11. Behold, he 〈…〉. It will be a sad thing if the Former ••aracter must belong unto us, Behold, they 〈…〉 No, 'Tis the Latter Character whereof ⟨image ?⟩we should be all Ambitious, Behold, they Pray! 'Tis this Day with us, a Day for it. But indeed, the Characters are utterly Inconsistent with, and mutually Destructive of, each other. What has been said of Sinning ▪ may be •aid of S•eeping, which are the same, 〈…〉 Praying will make us leave Sleeping, 〈…〉 S•eeping will make us leave P•aying. And for th•t cau••, 〈…〉 Day set apart for Praying: a Text which bespeaks, and requires our 〈…〉 ▪ does now demand our Meditations. On a Sacred Fist we ought Naturally to 〈…〉 more Sleepl••s than on another Day; 〈…〉 on such a Day, we should not 〈…〉 at 〈…〉.
The Great Apostle, having Instructed […] in the gracious and glorious Way of Justi•• […] Ri••te•usness of the Lord […] Christ, •e pr•ceeds to show how Justi••• Persons▪ not […], but also will, beha•• themselves That Faith which does Just••• […] the Righteousness of […] Lord Jesus Christ freely Tendered unto […] by God, for our Justification before Hi• will not permit the Believer to Live witho•• Abounding in […] works of the Lord, or without Bringing […] much of that Fruit, where•• the Heavenly Father ma• be glorified. A Jus•••fy'd Person, is always touched with a […] prejudice against the Sins, from which he […] been Justified; he conceives that his […] delivered from the Condemning Power of th• ⟨image ?⟩Law, does not Release him from, but unspeakably and everlastingly Oblige him to, the Commanding Power of it; his Gratitude unto the Lord that has Redeemed and Pardoned him, will cause him for ever to be zealous of the Good Works for which he is Purified, and avoid those Abominable […] which are Hated by the Soul of God. Liberty from Sin, and not Liberty for sin, is the only Liberty in the account of such a man. For one to make a Trade of Doing Ill Things, under the Encouragement of what Kind Things are done for us in the New-Covenant, […] altogether incompatible unto a person, whose peace is made with God; I may bold•• say, 'Tis not a spot of Gods Children; but ••at such as thus, Turn the Grace of God into wantonness, have upon them the Brand of ungodly Men. Our Apostle, in pursuance […] this Doctrine, does press an universal Sanctification, as the thing wherewith Justificati•• ever is accompanied. And our Text accordingly follows upon the Inculcation of several Things, whereof every Sanctified Believer must and shall be studious, on the •core of his being Justified. Universal Sanctity is here urged under the General Metaphor and Expression of, Waking out of Sleep. And the Figure of waking is used, that so an Exh••••tion to the Lively Performance of […] things before called for, might be the […] Livelily Insinuated. The Apostle had ⟨image ?⟩said, Be Fervent, Serving the Lord. He […] says, Be wakeful in that Service; be not perfunctory; be not Sluggish, be not […] act like Men. Awake, in what you hav• to do. There are two Circumstances in th•• Exhortation, which we may take notice of.
The Great Apostle, having Instructed 〈…〉 in the graciou• and glorious Way of Justi•• 〈…〉 Ri••te•usness of the Lord 〈…〉 Christ, •e pr•ceeds to show how Justi••• Persons▪ not 〈…〉, but also will, beha•• themselves That Faith which does Just••• 〈…〉 the Righteousness of 〈…〉 Lord Jesus Chri•t free•y Tendered unto 〈…〉 by God, for our Justification before Hi• will not permit the Believer to Live witho•• Ab•unding in 〈…〉 w•rks of the Lord, or wit••out Bringing 〈…〉 much of that Fruit, where•• the Heavenly Father ma• be glorify'd. A Jus•••fy'd Person, is always touched with a 〈…〉 prejudice against the Sins, from which he 〈…〉 been Justify'd; he conceives that his 〈…〉 delivered from the Condemning Power of th• ⟨image ?⟩Law, does not R•lease him from, but unspeakably and everlastingly Oblige him to, the Commanding Power of it; his Gratitude unto the Lord that has Redeem'd and Pardon'd him, will cause him for ever to be zealous of the Good Works for which he is Purify'd, and avoid those Abominable 〈…〉 which are Hated by the Soul of God. Liberty from Sin, and not Liberty for sin, is the only Liberty in the account of such a man. For one to make a Trade of Doing Ill Things, under the Encouragement of what Kind Things are done for us in the New-Covenant, 〈…〉 altogether incompatible unto a person, whose peace is made with God; I may bold•• say, 'Tis not a spot of Gods Children; but ••at such as thus, Turn the Grace of God into •antonness, have upon them the Brand of •ngodly Men. Our Apostle, in pursuance 〈…〉 this Doctrine, does press an universal San••ification, as the thing wherewith Justificati•• ever is accompany'd. And our Text accordingly follows upon the Inculcation of •everal Things, whereof every Sanctify'd Be•iever must and shall be studious, on the •core of his being Justify'd. Universal Sanctity is here urged under the General Meta•hor and Expression of, Waking out of Sleep. And the Figure of waking is used, that so an Exh••••tion to the Lively Performance of 〈…〉 things before called for, might be the 〈…〉 Livelily Insinuated. The Apostle had ⟨image ?⟩said, Be Fervent, Serving the Lord. He 〈…〉 says, Be wakeful in that Service; be not per•functory; be not Sluggish, be not 〈…〉 act like Men. Awake, in what you hav• to do. There are two Circumstances in th•• Exhortation, which we may take notice of.
First, We have a Transition to it. And tha•. The clause is Elliptical. Tis as much as to say, Moreover, or Furthermore; and it is as if it had been said, Be sure to mind THAT. It is THAT, which you are to set a, Note We••, upon.
First, Wee have a Transition to it. And tha•. The clause is Elliptical. Tis as much as to say, Moreover, or Furthermore; and it is as if it had been said, Bee sure to mind THAT. It is THAT, which you are to set a, Note We••, upon.
Secondly, We have a• Argument for […] Knowing the Time, that it is High Time. Something there is in the Time, that powerfully […] us to our work. There is a Cry in the […] against those Vices, whereto we are […]
Secondly, Wee have a• Argument for 〈…〉 Knowing the Time, that it is High Time. Something there is in the Time, that powerfully 〈…〉 us to our work. There is a Cry in the 〈…〉 against those Vices, whereto wee are 〈…〉
So lies the Text▪
Tis a Day, wherein we see the Flame War Enkindled almost through all the part• Europe, and the mortal Spark• of it flying ••ver into America.
Tis a Day, wherein wee see the Flame War Enkindled almost through all the part• Eu•ope, and the mortal Spark• of it flying ••ver into America.