N00498:65
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.
Thirdly, If we are not Asleep, why are w• so Mindless of what we have to do? 'Tis said unto some in Psal. 50.22. Consider this, you that Forget God. But how many are there whom that Note is to be Branded upon, They Forget God, and never Consider what He has called them to? With what a Brutal Stupidity, do men Forget the Errand which they were sent into the World upon? which is, To Glorify God. Our main Business in the World is, By Repenting, & Believing to make sure of Everlasting Happiness, & in the continual exercise of Religion, bear our Testimonies unto all the Truths and Ways of the God that made us. But is not this Business, utterly laid aside by the most of men? Men Employ themselves, as if they had nothing in the world to do, but build and fill a little Nest made of Straw & Clay, wherein after they themselves have been Merry for many years, their young ones may be comfortably Lodged after them. Vain Man! And knowest thou not how soon the Cudgels of Death may batter down that little Nest? I have one Question to send round unto every man in this great Assembly; 'tis this, Pray, what have you been doing in the world, ever since you came into it? How few among us, could Relate any other than a most wretched Story, in a True Answer to that great Question? When our Lord was going to Die, He could say, ••ther, I have Finished the Work, which thou ⟨image ?⟩hast given me to do. But many of us, if we were to Die immediately, must with most inexpressible Stings in our Souls, confess, O I have never yet struck so much as one good Stroke at the Work which has been ordered for me. And hence also, how little concerned are we to know and use, the wonderful Opportunities wherewith we are furnished in our several Capacities, to be doing or getting of Good? We have our Talents; that is, our Opportunities to Serve the Interests of God, of the Church, of our own Souls: But we suffer our Talents to lie by most shamefully unimproved; and there are very few that seriously and frequently ask themselves, What is there that I may do for the further Service of my God, and of my Generation?
Thirdly, If we are not Asleep, why are w• so Mindless of what we have to do? 'Tis said unto some in