N00657:29
A discourse concerning the uncertainty of the times of men, and the necessity of…
A discourse concerning the uncertainty of the times of men, and the necessity of being prepared for sudden changes & death. Delivered in a sermon preached at Cambridge in New England. Decemb. 6. 1696. On occasion of the sudden death of two scholars belonging to Harvard College. / By Increase Mather, president of that college. ; [Two lines from I Samuel]A discourse concerning the uncertainty of the times of men, and the necessity of being prepared for sudden changes & death. Delivered in a sermon preached at Cambridge in New England. Decemb. 6. 1696. On occasion of the sudden death of two scholars belonging to Harvard Colledge. / By Increase Mather, praesident of that colledge. ; [Two lines from I Samuel]
printed by B. Green for Samuel Phillips, 1697
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.
3. The Conversations of men generally make it manifest, that they know not their Time. They do many things which they would not do, and they neglect many things which they would certainly practise, if they knew what Times are near them. Math. 24.43. If the good man of the house had known in what watch the Thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Thus men live in a careless neglect of God, and of their own Souls and Salvation, but if they knew that […] will come stealing suddenly upon them▪ they would watch and pray. Did they know that before the next week, they shall be in another World, they would live after another manner than now they do. Most commonly Persons are light and v•in in their Spirits, ⟨p. 19⟩when heavy Tidings is near to them. Did they know what sad News they shall •ear shortly, they would be in a more solemn frame of Spirit. Isa. 5.12. The harp and the vi•l, the tabret, and the pipe, and wine are in their feasts, but they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands. Had they known what work God intended to make with them speedily, they would have minded something else besides their sensual pleasures and delights.
3. The Conversations of men generally make it manifest, that they know not their Time. They do many things which they would not do, and they neglect many things which they would certainly practise, if they knew what Times are near them. Math. 24.43. If the good man of the house had known in what watch the Theef would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Thus men live in a ca•eless neglect of God, and of their own Souls and Salvation, but if they knew that 〈…〉 will come stealing suddenly upon them▪ they would watch and pray. Did they know that before the next week, they shall be in another World, they would live after another manner than now they do. Most commonly Persons are light and vin in their Spiits,