N00657:50
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.
Ans. 1. Let us make sure that Death find us in Christ. That was Pauls great care, that he might be found in him. Phil. 3.9. If a man was got into the City of Refuge, the Avenger of blood could not hurt him. Neither can Death hurt that man who is in Christ. There are none of us all, but Death may come suddenly upon us. As Eminent Saints, as ever lived have dyed suddenly: was it not so with Moses? was he not well and dead in a Moment of Time, without ever being sick? Have you not known or heard of many Eminent Servants of the Lord ⟨p. 33⟩with whom it has been thus? That Holy Learned man, Mr. Brightman, was taken with Death as he was Riding in a Coach, having a Greek Testament in his hand, because he would loose no time. Our famous Mr. Norton, was taken with Death as he was walking in his House, fell down and never spoke a word more. Those Worthy Governors, Mr. Eaton, and Haines dyed in their sleep. So has it been with many a dear Servant of God, that has gone to Bed well, and dyed in his sleep. So did Mr. Vines, and Mr. Capel, after they had Preached twice the Lords Day before. And therefore I do not advise you to pray (as some do) that you may not die suddenly, but to make sure of your being in Christ, and then let Death come never so suddenly, you shall receive no harm by it. There are Angels by you to take care of your Souls. But if Death finds a man out of Christ, woe unto him that ever he was born. What terrible work will Death make with that man? It will tear him in pieces, Body & Soul, and send both to Prison, his Body to the Prison of the Grave, and his Soul to a worse Prison, there to remain in a certain fearful expectation of Judgment, and of Fiery Indignation at the Great Day.
Ans. 1. Let us make sure that Death find us in Christ. That was Pauls great care, that he might be found in him. Phil. 3.9. If a man was got into the City of Refuge, the Avenger of blood could not hurt him. Neither can Death hurt that man who is in Christ. There are none of us all, but Death may come suddenly upon us. As Eminent Saints, as ever lived have dyed suddenly: was it not so with Moses? was he not well and dead in a Moment of Time, without ever being sick? Have you not known or heard of many Eminent Servants of the Lord ⟨p. 33⟩