N00657:42
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.
Take heed to your selves, l•st at any time your hearts be overcharged with Surfeiting and Drunkenness, and Cares of this Life, and so that day come upon you unawares. If Death should c•me upon a man, presently after he has committed some grievous sin, how sad would that be; or if Death should find him acting sin, as it did Zimri and Cozbi, who were Slain in the act of wickedness, so Nadab and Abihu, at the time when they were profaning the Name of God, Lightning killed them. If Death should find a man profaning the Sabbath, or in Lewd Company it would be most uncomfortable; or if Death▪ should find him in Drink, as very often it is so with notorious Drunkards: And although' many a sober and godly man is Drowned, nevertheless, it is observable concerning Drunkards, that their sin is often s••n in their punishment. They have used to drown themselves in Drink, and they often […] by Drowning: and are drowned too at the time of their being Drunk. This is very sad.
Take heed to your selves, l•st at any time your hearts be overcharged with Surf•ting and Drunkenness, and Cares of this Life, and so that day come upon you unawares. If Death should c•me upon a man, presently after he has committed some grievous sin, how sad would that be; or if Death should find him acting sin, as it did Zimri and Cozbi, who were Slain in the act of wickedness, so Nadab and Abihu, at the time when they were profaning the Name of God, Lightning killed them. If Death should find a man profaning the Sabbath, or in Lewd Company it would be most uncomfortable; or if Death▪ should find him in Drink, as very often it is so with notorious Drunkards: And altho' many a sober and godly man is Drowned, nevertheless, it is observable concerning Drunkards, that their sin is often s••n in their punishment. They have us•d to drown themselves in Drink, and they often 〈…〉 by Drowning: and are drowned too at the time of their being Drunk. This is very sad.