N00617:44
The Christian thank-offering. A brief discourse on the returns of gratitude & obedience whereto…
The Christian thank-offering. A brief discourse on the returns of gratitude & obedience whereto men are obliged, by the mercies of God. Made on a solemn thanksgiving, kept in a private meeting of Christians, on the occasion of some deliverances. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Five lines of quotation]
printed by B. Green for Michael Perry, 1696
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
But, Secondly, 'Tis a Worse Thing then, to be the Worse for the Mercies of God. Some there are, who make the Mercies of God, the ⟨p. 20⟩Occasions, yea, the Instruments, of their Sin against Him. There are Spiders, whom the Grace of God, Emboldens in Impiety and Impenitency: they Cavil after this rate, God Almighty is ready to Pardon, and why may not I allow my self in some Transgressions of His Law? The Apostle Jude hath flashed the hottest Brimstone of Hell, in the faces of those Reprobates; and indeed, Whatever Sins a Regenerate man may fall into, it will not be Improper at least for the sinner himself to count it questionable, Whether any Regenerate man can Deliberately thus, Turn the Grace of God into Wantonness. And what shall be said of them, who take Encouragement from their Prosperity, to Wallow Securely in those filthy puddles of Death, which they would otherwise be afraid of plunging themselves into? Say, Would you not be more Prayerful, and more Careful, in all your ways, and more Studious to Serve the Lord JESUS CHRIST, if you were under those Deadly Bands, which lie upon such, or such of your Neighbours? Conscience, Do thy Office! Is there no Person among us, who ha's had, not only a Life, but a New Life, and a Life Sweetened with many Conveniences, given to him? And yet, how does he now carry himself? Does not he Live more Carnally, more Worldlily, more Vainly, than he did before? Is he not like the Jews, who having made their Offerings in the Temple said, ⟨p. 21⟩•e are now acquitted to do all Abominations, and •un upon a New Score of Sinning? Yea, How common a Thing is it, for Persons to make •he Mercies of God, the mere Fuel of their Lusts? It was the Crime of them, in Hos. 2. 8. The Corn and Wine which I gave them, did they prepare for Baal. Thus it may be said of many, They would be less Wicked, if it were not for the Mercies which God gives unto them. Now, what an horrid thing is this? It David should have taken the Sword and the Bow that Jonathan gave him, and presently have Stabbed or •not the Donor with it, would it not have been a most Villainous Act? But be it known to you, That you are Fighting against God, with Weapons of His own; yea, you are fighting or the Devil with them. Oh! Think of this, and Blush at the Horrible Thing.