N00569:68
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.
But it is to be feared, that there are Obstinate Souls, who will still DELAY, to Cleanse their ways, by taking heed, according to the Word of God: and as for these, there are some further pains to be taken for the Reclaiming of them.
As for You that are OLD PEOPLE, God forbid, that you should procrastinate in Religion, whoever others do so procrastinate. You that are most unquestionably very near to your Everlasting Estate, had need get quickly beyond Peradventures about that Estate; and make sure, that your Future [and yet so Nigh, that it is hardly to be called Future!] Estate, may be, That which remains for the People of God. I say, Father, make hast; and tho' with One Foot in the Grave, yet Run, to and in, the Way of Gods Commandments. Art thou, A Sinner half an hundred Years Old! Oh, Tarry not One hour longer so much under the ⟨p. 36⟩Formidable Curse of God, but give thy self up to God in Christ. This hour with hearty Lamentations over all the former Errors of thy Life. It has been sometim•s enquired, Quis Miserrimus! Or, who is the miserablest man in the World! And it has been Answered, Senex Egenus, or, A Needy Old Man. But I'll tell you who is a far more miserable man; A Godless Old man, a Christless Old man, an Old man unacquainted with the comforts of true Religion. I• there be One such Old man within Hea•ing here, I would say This to him; Friend, It is not yet altogether Too Late for you to embrace the Tenders of the New Testament. Although' that Old Age has Ploughed its Furrows in your Faces, it is not yet altogether Too Late for you to be Ploughing up the Fallow ground of your Hearts, by true Repentance.
As for You that are OLD PEOPLE, God forbid, that you should procastinate in Religion, whoever others do so procrastinate. You that are most unquestionably very near to your Everlasting Estate, had need get quickly beyond Peradventures about that Estate; and make sure, that your Future [and yet so Nigh, that it is hardly to be called Future!] Estate, may be, That which remains for the People of God. I say, Father, make hast; and tho' with One Foot in the Grave, yet Run, to and in, the Way of Gods Commandments. Art thou, A Sinner half an hundred Years Old! Oh, Tarry not One hour longer so much under the