N00619:30
Things for a distressed people to think upon. Offered in the sermon to the…Things for a distress'd people to think upon. Offered in the sermon to the…
Things for a distressed people to think upon. Offered in the sermon to the General Assembly of the province, of the Massachusetts Bay, at the anniversary election. May, 27. 1696. Wherein, I. the condition of the future, as well as the former times, in which we are concerned, is considered. II. A narrative of the late wonderful deliverance, of the King, and the three kingdoms, & all the English dominions, is endeavoured. III. A relation, of no less than seven miracles, within this little while wrought by the Almighty Lord Jesus Christ, for the confirmation of our hopes, that some glorious works, for the welfare of his church, are quickly to be done, is annexed. / By Cotton Mather.Things for a distress'd people to think upon. Offered in the sermon to the General Assembly of the province, of the Massachusetts Bay, at the anniversary election. May, 27. 1696. Wherein, I. the condition of the future, as well as the former times, in which we are concerned, is considered. II. A narrative of the late wonderful deliverance, of the King, and the three kingdoms, & all the English dominions, is endeavoured. III. A relation, of no less than seven miracles, within this little while wrought by the Almighty Lord Jesus Christ, for the confirmation of our hopes, that some glorious works, for the welfare of his church, are quickly to be done, is annexed. / By Cotton Mather.
printed by B. Green for Duncan Campbel, 1696
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.
Thirdly; The prodigious and astonishing Scandals, given by the extraordinary Miscarriages of some that have made a more than ordinary Profession of Religion; These call for our Tears, and our Bleeding Lamentations. ⟨p. 19⟩When some Church-members, yea, some Teachers and Rulers in Israel, were fallen into Scandal, says that good man, in Ezra 9.3. When I heard this Thing, then I rent my Garment, and my Mantle, and I sat down Astonied; and I said, O my God, I am Ashamed. Alas, It would Astonish any good man, into Tears, to be informed of the Detestable Things done by some that have highly Professed Better Things. Indeed, Let a man do never so well, yet a great many Ill Things may be spoken of him; yea, a man shall Hear Ill, for Doing Well. One of the most faithful men among the whole People of God, could say, I heard the Defaming of many. But if those Defamed Servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, will be a little patient, He will at last give an Honourable Resurrection unto the Names, that had so much Dirt cast upon them, when the Names of their Envious Accusers, will either lie Buried in Oblivion, or be mentioned no otherwise, than as Judas in the Gospel, and Pilate in the Creed. It is another matter, and oh! a very Tearful, and Fearful matter it is! When such as have made an high profession of Godliness, are left of God, unto the Doing of those Ungodly Things, upon which it may be said unto them, The Name of God is through your means Blasphemed. Sirs, It were infinitely better, for one to Dye immediately! There are some, who do with ⟨p. 20⟩pleasure, Entertain the Stories of Base Things done by the strict Professors of Religion; and with Triumph exclaim thereupon, Ay, These are the Members of such an one! who would be a Professor? They are all so! Unto every such person I must without hesitation say, Man, Thou hast an infallible mark of an Unregenerate Soul upon thee. If thou hadst the Heart of a Christian in thee, thou wouldst never speak at such a rate: such Language would rather proceed from the Heart of a Devil! But the Lord Jesus Christ has an Holy People, who do themselves Hate every false way, and are in exquisite Agonies of Soul, when they see any others to step aside into such a Way. The Wise man says, in Prov. 25.26. A Righteous man falling before the Wicked, is as a Troubled Fountain, and a corrupt Spring.