N00597:94
Solemn advice to young men, not to walk in the ways of their heart,…Solemn advice to young men, not to walk in the wayes of their heart,…
Solemn advice to young men, not to walk in the ways of their heart, and in the sight of their eyes; but to remember the Day of Judgment. / By Increase Mather, president of Harvard College in Cambridge, & preacher of the Gospel at Boston, in New-England. ; [Five lines of Scripture texts]Solemn advice to young men, not to walk in the wayes of their heart, and in the sight of their eyes; but to remember the Day of Judgment. / By Increase Mather, praesident of Harvard Colledge in Cambridge, & preacher of the Gospel at Boston, in New-England. ; [Five lines of Scripture texts]
printed by Bartholomew Green. Sold by Samuel Phillips, 1695
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.
Inf. III. If Sin •e such an Odious thing as hath been proved, then that which is Contrary unto Sin, namely Grace and Holiness is a most lovely thing. From thence it is that the righteous is more excellent than is Neighbour. Who are the most excellent ones on the earth? Are they rich men? or great men? or learned men? If they be adorned with Grace in their Souls, then are they excellent indeed: but if not, God in His Word calls them Vile Persons, Psal. 15. 4. That Antioc•us whose admirers gave him the name of Ephiphanes, as if he had been an illustrious and excellent person, the Angel calleth him a Vile Person, because he was a very wicked man, and a base dissembler, Dan. 11▪ 21. But the Saints are the excellent in the Earth, and it is their Sanctity. which makes them to be so. Psal. 16. 3. Silver and Gold, and Rubies are lovely things in the carnal eyes of men: but Grace in the heart is a far more lovely and desirable thing than all these. This is that Wisdom of which Solomon speaketh, and concerning which he says, Happy […] the man that findeth it▪ For the Merchandise▪ ⟨p. 96⟩of it, is better then the Merchandise of Silver, and the gain thereof then fine Gold, she is […] precious then Rubies, and all the things thou […] desire, are not to be compared unto her, Prov. 3. 13, 14, 15. Grace is an Ornament of great price in the sight of God: It makes those to be amiable in whom it is. One true believer that ha's grace in his Soul is more precious in Gods account, than Millions of other men. Isa. 43. 3, 4. I gave Egypt for thy ransom, and Ethiopia and Seb• for thee, since thou wast precious in my sight. When a […] is converted into a […] there is a man become an Angel; and that man shall one day be made equal with the Angels. Holiness makes men on Earth like the Angels in Heaven. Wherein do the Angels of Heaven excel the Devils of Hell? It is especially in respect of their Holiness. The blessed Angels delight in all that is Holy, and Just, and Good; but the Devils do the contrary, they delight in all manner of sin and wickedness. Holiness makes Saints and Angels to resemble the ever blessed God For the Divine Image does consists chiefly n Holiness