N00569:95
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. IX. Do! Die Strangers to Religion; and how will you hold up your Heads in the Day of GODS PLEADING with you? It was the Premonition once given to the Young man, in Eccl. 11.9. O Young man, Know thou, that God will bring thee into Judgment. Well but then, O Young man, Know thou, What Witnesses will appear against thee, in that Judgment, if thou dost not now by Religion prepare for […] judgment! Of two things, you may be certain: One is, That God has Appointed a Day, wherein He will Judge the World in Righteousness, ⟨p. 65⟩by that Man […] He hath Ordained: The other is, That This Day of the Lord, it is Near, it is Near, and it hastens greatly. But now, Consider, O Young People, What Witnesses your Irreligion, will in that notable Day, be Condemned with. As Moses could say to the perishing Israelites, in Deut. 1.43. I spake unto you, and ye would not Hear, but Rebelled against the Commandment of the Lord: Even so, There will at Last be a Triumph of Justice over you, when there shall come in an Army of Witnesses against you; saying, We Spake to this Young man, but in spite of all our Speaking, he would Rebel against the God, that Made him. Tis possible, Your Parents may then after this manner testify against you: Lord, when this person, was under our Instruction, we often charged him to Serve thee with a perfect Heart, and a willing Mind; We told him, that if he Sought thee, thou wouldest be found of him, and if he forsook thee, thou woodest Cast him off for ever. We Dedicated him to thee, and would fain have Educated him for thee. We did in our poor measure set the Example of a Godly, Zealous, Watchful Walk before him; we Prayed for him, we Wept over him, we were in Agonies of Soul that we might see thy Image formed in him. He slighted all; and therefore we have nothing now to say, why thou shouldest not make him a Vessel of thy Wrath World without End. Young man, With how many Scorpions will this Language ⟨p. 66⟩of thy Disappointed Parents Lash thee, in the Day of God! Add hereto; 'Tis possible, Your Masters may then in like manner testify. Lord, When this Person dwelt with us, we often set before him the Danger of all his Evil Courses; we fore-warned him of the Snares wherein Lay his Eternal Hazards; He had the Daily Devotions of our Families to Forward him in thy Fear: We put Good Books into his hands;