N00569:72
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.
Quest. I. Are not Gods COMMANDMENTS, Gods Promises, Gods Threatenings, ⟨p. 38⟩particularly directed unto YOU, Young People, to Engage YOU in Gods Religion? We read in 2 Joh. 4. of, Children walking in Truth, as we have Received a Commandment from the Father. God our Father has given a Commandment unto Us, Young Folks, to approve our selves •is Children, by Walking in Truth, or, as His Truth directs. 'Tis the Commandment of God, Cast away from you all your Transgressions; but is it any where said, Let none but Old People Cease Transgressing? 'Tis the Commandment of God, Let the Wicked forsake his way, Returning to the Lord; but was it ever said, Let none but Old People Return from Wickedness? Never did you yet find any such Clause in all the Edicts of Heaven; but the Thing intended by the God of Heaven is, Let all people do so! So then, you Young People, are to do it. It is the Commandment of God, That All men should Repent; and it is His Commandment, That We should all Believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ. And what? Have you not so much Grammar in you, as to know, that the Imperative Mood has no Future Tense? It is not for the Time Future, but the Time Present, that you are thus Commanded.
Quest. I. Are not Gods COMMANDMENTS, Gods Promises, Gods Threatnings, ⟨p. 38⟩particularly directed unto YOU, Young People, to Engage YOU in Gods Religion? We read in 2 Joh. 4. of, Children walking in Truth, as we have Received a Commandment from the Father. God our Father has given a Commandment unto Us, Young Folks, to approve our selves •is Children, by Walk•ng in Truth, or, as His Truth directs. 'Tis the Commandment of God, Cast away from you all your Transgressions; but is it any where said, Let none but Old People Cease Transgressing? 'Tis the Commandment of God, Let the VVicked forsake his way, Returning to the Lord; but was it ever said, Let none but Old People Return from Wickedness? Never did you yet find any such Clause in all the Edicts of Heaven; but the Thing intended by the God of Heaven is, Let all people do so! So then, you Young People, are to do it. It is the Commandment of God, That All men should Repent; and it is His Commandment, That We should all Believe on the Name of His Son Jesus Christ. And what? Have you not so much Grammar in you, as to know, that the Imperative Mood has no Future Tense? It is not for the Time Future, but the Time Present, that you are thus Commanded.