N00569:84
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.
When He slew them, then they sought Him; and they returned and Enquired Early after God. Nevertheless they did Flatter Him with their Mouth, and they Lied unto him, ⟨p. 55⟩with their Tongues; for their heart was not right with him! As I have known many Condemned Malefactors, under the Expectation of their Execution, have such Marvellous expressions of Repentance, that one could not have imagined mere Hypocrisy in the bottom of all. And yet I must freely say it, Of those pretended Penitents, that have been Reprieved and Pardoned, I can't Remember Two, but what have afterwards Proved Prodigies of Wickedness. Thus Deceitful uses to be that Repentance, which counts it Early enough to be Seeking of God, when men find the Almighty God slaying of them! Yea, But I have another Check for your Young People's Dilatory Frenzy; and that is this. How do you know, Young People, but that an Early and a Sudden Death, may overtake you! We Read of some, in Job 36.14. They die in Youth. Pray, mind, the next time you step into the Burying-Place, whether you can see no Graves there, that are shorter than yourselves? We Read of some, in Job. 21.13. In a mom••t they go down to the Grave. Pray, How many go out of the World, not having Liberty to say, Lord, have Mercy on me! at their going?
When He slew them, then they sought Him; and they returned and Enquired Early after God. Nevertheless they did Flatter Him with their Mouth, and they Lyed unto him, ⟨p. 55⟩with their Tongues; for their heart was not right with him! As I have known many Condemned Malefactors, under the Expectation of their Execution, have such Marvellous expressions of Repentance, that one could not have imagined meer Hyp•crisy in the bottom of all. And yet I must freely say it, Of those pretended Penitents, that have been Reprieved and Pardoned, I can't Remember Two, but what have afterwards Proved Prodigies of Wickedness. Thus Deceitful uses to be that Repentance, which counts it Early enough to be Seeking of God, when men find the Almighty God slaying of them! Yea, But I have another Check for your Young People's Dilatory Phrenzy; and that is this. How do you know, Young People, but that an Early and a Sudden Death, may overtake you! We Read of some, in