N00619:43
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.
Briefly, The Best Thing that New-England can possibly be Blessed withal, would be, the Regeneration of the Rising Generation; the general Conversion of our Young People, to know▪ and prize, and serve our Lord Jesus Christ. We are Trembling, at the Controversy, which we see the Great God managing against you, O our Young Folks, in Fiery, Deadly Rebukes. You do not Keep the Covenant of God; and now, the Almighty God seems to say over New-England, I will take no pleasure in your young men. Some of our Young men are given up to the furthest sallies of Extravagant and Exorbitant Impiety: And others of our Young men perish either by the Wars at Home, or by the Seas abroad, until we almost become, as Bede reports once England was, Omni milite, et floridae Juventutis Alacritate Spoliata. Miserable Young men; your Conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ, would certainly prevent all of this misery. Now, to procure such a Conversion, it would be a course of admirable Efficacy, for our Churches to keep now and then, whole Days of Prayer unto the Lord, on the behalf of their poor Posterity. Awake then, what mean you, O ye sleeping Churches? Arise, and call upon your Lord! The Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, Oh! could we Pray that Holy Spirit into the Hearts of our Children, they would fall to Glorifying of the Lord Jesus Christ immediately! ⟨p. 32⟩How much might our Counsels work upon them, if they saw our most ardent Prayers accompany those Counsels? If Grace were more owned, and sought, who can say, What the Spirit of Grace, would then do for our Offspring?
Briefly, The Best Thing that New-England can possibly be Blessed withal, would be, the Regeneration of the Rising Generation; the general Conversion of our Young People, to know▪ and prize, and serve our Lord Jesus Christ. We are Trembling, at the Controversy, which we see the Great God managing against you, O our Young Folks, in Fiery, Deadly Rebukes. You do not Keep the Covenant of God; and now, the Almighty God seems to say over New-England, I will take no pleasure in your young men. Some of our Young men are given up to the furthest sallies of Extravagant and Exorbitant Impiety: And others of our Young men perish either by the Wars at Home, or by the Seas abroad, until we almost become, as Bede reports once England was, Omni milite, et floridae Juventutis Alacritate Spoliata. Miserable Young men; your Conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ, would certainly prevent all of this misery. Now, to procure such a Conversion, it would be a course of admirable Efficacy, for our Churches to keep now and then, whole Dayes of Prayer unto the Lord, on the behalf of their poor Posterity. Awake then, what mean you, O ye sleeping Churches? Arise, and call upon your Lord! The Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, Oh! could we Pray that Holy Spirit into the Hearts of our Children, they would fall to Glorifying of the Lord Jesus Christ immediately!