N00569:94
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.
The Devils have, with Ghastly Spectres appeared unto these Young People, and Wounded them with a Thousand Preternatural Vexations; but still so Captivated their Senses, that ordinarily they might not mind any thing that was Devout. These Devils have kept some of these poor Creatures in a Starving Fast, for Nine, yea, for Fifteen Days together. And the most Killing Mischiefs thus inflicted have been presently Cured, that so there might be a Daily Renovation and Repetition of those Mischiefs. This Lively Picture of Hell have we Young People, seen upon several of our own Generation; when 'twas perfectly Impossible, there should be any Humane Legerdemains in the Drawing of it. But as it was once urged, Surely if one went unto them from the Dead, they will Repent; Even so, By the permission of God, the Devils coming from the Damned, have in the Possessions of many Young People, displayed an Image of HELL before our Eyes. And, I remember, One of the Possessed, Lying in such Anguishes as would have broke an Heart of Stone to ⟨p. 64⟩have seen them, once got •o much Liberty from the Infernal Fetters that were upon her, as to Cry out, Oh! All you that Stand by, Behold, what an Hard Master the Devil is! One would think, that the Rest of our Young People, should now Repent of all their Misdemeanours! But, Wicked Youths; if you will not yet Leave your Hard Masters, you have a little seen after what a Truculent, and what a Tremendous Fashion, They will handle you, when you shall at last fall into the Hands of those Hellish Fiends; you have seen, a Little, How 'twill be, when those Freckled Adders, are Crawling and Coiling about you for evermore. O That by the Fear of this thing, I might Pull you out of that Fire, that never shall be Quenched! Finally,
The Devils have, with Ghastly Spectres appeared unto these Young People, and Wounded them with a Thousand Preternatural Vexations; but still so Captivated their Senses, that ordinarily they might not mind any thing that was Devout. These Devils have kept some of these poor Creatures in a Starving Fast, for Nine, yea, for Fifteen Dayes together. And the most Killing Mischiefs thus inflicted have been presently Cured, that so there might be a Daily Renovation and Repetition of those Mischiefs. This Lively Picture of Hell have we Young People, seen upon several of our own Generation; when 'twas perfectly Impossible, there should be any Humane Legerdemains in the Drawing of it. But as it was once urged, Surely if one went unto them from the Dead, they will Repent; Even so, By the permission of God, the Devils coming from the Damned, have in the Possessions of many Young People, display'd an Image of HELL before our Eyes. And, I remember, One of the Possessed, Lying in such Anguishes as would have broke an Heart of Stone to