N00569:63
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.
Secondly, TAKE HEED, Lest your Company prove your Confusion. •rigidus (O Juvenes fugite hinc) Latet Anguis in Herba. Oh! That our Young People, who are generally by Nature Sociable, would be sensible of the Concernment that Lies upon them, to be ⟨p. 29⟩wonderfully careful concerning their Society! I am to tell you, That your Society, will be perhaps the first Mark of your Conversion unto God. You will no sooner begin to be in Earnest about your Everlasting Interests, but it will be seen, by your Abandoning that Wild, Mad, Frolicsome Company, which has it may be heretofore Enchanted you. But I am also to tell you, That your Society is like to be the worst •ane of your Conversion. What is it that •inders you from that Sober, Serious, Thinking Disposition of Spirit, which might probably bring matters to that pass with you, He Thinks and he Turns! It is the Entanglement of Evil Company, that keeps the most of you, in the Snares of Death. I say then, Take Heed, Young Man, Take Heed, Lest you go to Hell with and for your Company; such Company, as I assure you, will but Inflame that HELL, till it be Seven times Hotter, than it Would have been without such woeful Company! Hear, that Loud Call of Heaven Depart from the Tents of these wicked ones, Lest you perish in all their sins. How often have you been Warned, That your Society is for your Eternity! Say then; Would you be willing, throughout the Days of Eternity to be Lodged among these Lewd Youths, Who never had one Savoury Word in their mouths, Who Scoff at all that has any Savour of Devotion, Who do ⟨p. 30⟩all they can to decoy one another into the Courses of Gaming, Drinking, and Abominable Filthiness? Doubtless, 'Twill be your most Lively Cry to God in a Dying Hour; Lord, Gather not my Soul with such Sinners! And, I believe, if some of those wicked Companions, might come into your Chambers, when you are Lying on your Death-beds, the sight of them would smite your Souls with more Horror, than if all the Ugly Toads of Egypt were Crawling then about you. How often have I heard the Doleful Groans of Young People, when the Dimness of the Anguish of Death has been upon them, and when their quivering Souls have set upon the•• Pale and Cold Lips, ready to be Gone for ever, alas, they knew not, Whither! then Crying out, O my vain Company, it has undone me! my Sitting with vain persons, has been the Damnation of my Soul!