N00619:59
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▪ In pursuing the Designs of Reformation, why should not Every man, even Every one concern himself, according to the Capacities of the Station, wherein God has placed them? That a General Reformation may be effected, Every man should begin with Himself; ⟨p. 51⟩and if Every man would mend one, the Emendation of Manners among us, would indeed be very general. Men should be as desirous in point of Repentance, as they use to be in point of Charity, to Begin at Home! Self-Reformation every where conscientiously endeavoured, would prevent a double Evil, very common under the Sun. Sometimes, men make a Noise about Reformation, when they do but follow the Dictates of their own Malice and Revenge, in all the Noise. There was once, a Shimei, who, seeing the Judgments of God come upon the Land, he presently fell to Railing at the chief Rulers in the Land: he falls upon David, with such out-cries, as those, in 2. Sam. 16.8. Thou Bloody m•n, the Lord has now Returned all the Blood of the House of Saul, in whose stead thou hast Reigned. This poor man, was himself of the House of Saul, and because he thought his own House had met with some hard measure from the Government, he falls to Reviling as if the Land had no Sins, but those of the Government then to answer for. But I can tell you, That he was egregiously mistaken! And men had need beware, lest by giving way to their own exasperated Spirits and Passions, they become Shimei's, in exclaming for a Reformation. Sometimes again, there is a cry made about Reformation, by men that only cover their own vile Hypocrisy, by the Diversion of such a cry. 'Tis ⟨p. 52⟩very clear, that there are Vanities of Apparel to be Rebuked and Retrenched among us; those little Female, foolish Vanities, are utterly a Fault among us: the Holy Angels of the Lord Jesus Christ, are doubtless grieved, when they see the Flags, and Signs of a vain mind, hung out by the children of men; else the Lord would never have said, as in Isa. 3.16. Because the Daughters of Zion are Haughty, and walk with stretched forth Necks, therefore the Lord will take away the Bravery of their Tinkling Ornaments, & thy men shall fall by the Sword. But now there are persons, who are themselves Drones, or Thieves, or Cheats, or Liars, of Drunkards, or Fornicators, or some other way horribly Depraved Creatures: