N00569:180
Early religion. Urged in a sermon. the duties, wherein, and the reasons wherefore, young…
Early religion. Urged in a sermon. the duties, wherein, and the reasons wherefore, young people should become religious. Whereto are added, the extracts of several papers, written by several persons, who are dying in their youth, left behind them those admonitions for the young survivors; with brief memoirs relating to the exemplary lives of some such, that have gone from hence to their everlasting rest. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Two lines of Scripture text]Early religion. Urged in a sermon. the duties, wherein, and the reasons wherefore, young people should become religious. Whereto are added, the extracts of several papers, written by several persons, who are dying in their youth, left behind them those admonitions for the young survivers; with brief memoirs relating to the exemplary lives of some such, that have gone from hence to their everlasting rest. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Two lines of Scripture text]
Boston: printed by B.H. i.e for Michael Perry, 1694
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.
Sect. 5. The Minister of the Place, visiting of him, after Sickness had confined him, found him, in an extreme dejection of Soul; his very Body Shook, through' his Fear, lest the Day of Grace were over with him; yet justifying of God, tho' he should be forever cast among the Damned. But yet his Fears were accompanied with Hopes in the All-sufficient merits of the Blessed Jesus: in which Hopes he still continued using all the Means of Grace, according to his Capacity, and Lamenting after those whereof he was not Capable.
Sect. 5. The Minister of the Place, visiting of him, after Sickness had confined him, found him, in an extreme dejection of Soul; his very Body Shook, thro' his Fear, lest the Day of Grace were over with him; yet justifying of God, tho' he should be forever cast among the Damned. But yet his Fears were accompany'd with Hopes in the Alsufficient merits of the Blessed Jesus: in which Hopes he still continued using all the Means of Grace, according to his Capacity, and Lamenting after those whereof he was not Capable.
Sect. 6. A month before he Died, he kept his Bed; the First Fortnight whereof he was very Comfortless, and yet very Patient; abounding all this while in Gracious Admonitions unto other Young People, that they would be concerned for their own Eternal Salvation. And you should not now have heard him complain, that he wanted Health, and Ease, tho' he did so; but that he wanted Faith, and Peace, and Christ; yet Expressing a profound Submission to the Will of God. But in the Last Fortnight of his Life, ⟨p. 107⟩this poor Child of God, had his weary Soul more comfortably Satiated with the Promises of the New-Covenant. God filled him with a marvellous Assurance of His Love, and so Sealed him with His own Spirit, that he Rejoiced with Joy Unspeakable and full of Glory. He would often be saying, Whom have I in Heaven but thee? and there is none on Earth, that I desire beside thee: My Flesh and my Heart faileth, but God is the Strength of my Heart, and my Portion for ever. And, I know that my Redeemer Lives, and that He shall Stand at the Latter Day upon the Earth. And, If I Live, I shall Live unto the Lord; if I Die, I shall Die unto the Lord; and whether I Live or Die, I am the Lords. And, When Christ, who is my Life, shall appear, then shall I also appear with him in Glory. He would profess, that his Communion with the Lord Jesus Christ, was Inexpressible; and the Spectators judged his Consolations, to be as Great, as could be born, in a mortal Body. Being now asked, Whether the Thoughts of Dying Troubled him not? He replied, No, Death is no Terror to me, because Christ has taken away my Sin, which is the Sting of Death. But being asked, Whether he was willing to Live? he answered, I am willing to submit unto the Will of God; but if God have appointed me to Life, I desire I may Live to His Glory. And being asked, Whether God had put out of Doubt, his Interest in a