N00655:43
The way to excel. Meditations, awakened by the death of the Reverend Mr. Joshua…
The way to excel. Meditations, awakened by the death of the Reverend Mr. Joshua Moodey; with some short character of that eminent person: who slept in Jesus, 4d. 5.m. 1697. In the sixty fifth year of his age. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Six lines from Joshua]
printed by B. Green, 1697
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.
If they have Joy over a Penitent ▪ they must needs have some sort of Grief over a Transgressor. Yea, in all probability, the miscarriages of such offenders, work in them a sort of Distaste, which inclines them, on many accounts, to withdraw from the Offenders, until they have Washed themselves over again, In the Fountain set open for Sin & for Uncleanness. Now, Let this consideration accompany us, in all our Walk; and let the Eye of an Angel be more to us, than the Eye of a Cato, could be to any Roman. The Face of Angels will at last be gained, by such a Consideration!
If they have Joy over a Paenitent ▪ they must needs have some sort of Grief over a Transgressor. Yea, in all probability, the miscarriages of such offenders, work in them a sort of Distast, which inclines them, on many accounts, to withdraw from the Offenders, until they have Washed themselves over again, In the Fountain set open for Sin & for Uncleanness. Now, Let this consideration accompany us, in all our Walk; and let the Eye of an Angel be more to us, than the Eye of a Cato, could be to any Roman. The Face of Angels will at last be gain'd, by such a Consideration!
VII. Let us Beware of every Sin; for Sin will Turn a Man into a Devil. Oh! Vile SIN, horrid SIN, cursed SIN; or, to speak a more Pungent word, than all of That; Oh, SINFUL Sin; how Pernicious art thou unto the Souls of Men! Tis said, in 1 Joh. 3.8. He that Committeth Sin, is of the Devil. Holiness will make men Incarnate Angels; but Wickedness will make them Devils Incarnate. An Impenitent Sinner; hath he the Face of an Angel? No, but the Heart of a Devil in him. Let ⟨p. 27⟩your Zeal against all Sin then, be like that of the Seraphim. The Angels, are Seraphims, or Burning ones; They Burn [and so let us!] against all Sin, because of its being so contrary & provoking to their most Holy Lord. Sirs, Mark it; If any of you wittingly, and willingly, Sin against God, you do as the Devils do, and as the Devils would have you to do, and as our Lord Jesus Christ speaks, in