N00731:72
The folly of sinning, opened & applied, in two sermons, occasioned by the condemnation…The folly of sinning, opened & applyed, in two sermons, occasioned by the condemnation…
The folly of sinning, opened & applied, in two sermons, occasioned by the condemnation of one that was executed at Boston in New-England, on November 17th. 1698. / By Increase Mather, president of Harvard College, in Cambridge, and preacher of the Gospel at Boston in N.E. ; [Two lines from Romans]The folly of sinning, opened & applyed, in two sermons, occasioned by the condemnation of one that was executed at Boston in New-England, on November 17th. 1698. / By Increase Mather, praesident of Harvard Colledge, in Cambridge, and preacher of the Gospel at Boston in N.E. ; [Two lines from Romans]
Boston: printed by B Green for Michael Perry over against the Town House, 1699
THE FOLLY OF Sinning. › Sermon 2 › Proposition 3: PROPOSITION. III.
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.
2. It is the property of a Fool to mind only what is present, but to be careless of ⟨p. 77⟩what shall be hereafter. A wise man will lay up a good foundation against the Time to come: he'll provide against a rainy day. Prov. 10.5. He that gathereth in Summer is a wise Son. He that is wise will in Summer provide against Winter. It is said of the Ants that they are exceeding wise, because they prepare their meat in the Summer. Prov. 30.25. Alas! Sinners have not this wisdom. They are like beasts without reason who only indulge their present senses, but have no thoughts where they must be, or how they shall live a few years hence. If men were wise they would be often thinking of another world. They would prepare for Death, and provide for Eternity. Deut. 32.29. O that they were wise that they understood this, that they would Consider their latter end. They that are wise will consider their latter end. They will remember Death & Eternity. Why are some of the Virgins in the Parable called Foolish Virgins, but because they did not take care to get Oil into their Vessels, Grace into their hearts, and so be provided and prepared for the day of the Lords coming! There is no sinner in this world, but he must shortly go out of it, and go into another world where he must be for ⟨p. 78⟩ever and ever: And yet he remains unprepared and unprovided for that world. What inexpressible folly is this? I remember a Reverend Author speaks concerning a certain noble man that had a Servant belonging to his Family that was counted a Fool, to whom he delivered a Staff and bid him keep that Staff until he should meet with one that was more Fool than himself, and give it to that man: Within a while hi• Lord fell sick unto Death: His Fool servant comes to him, and says, what are you dying? Yes, saves his Lord: And whither are you going? Into another world says he: And when will you come again says his Fool to him, a Month hence, or a year hence, or how long first. I must never come again, says his Master, and I shall never see thee any more. And (said the Servant) have you made any provision for that world which you are going into, never to come here again? No, said his Lord, I have not: No (said the poor Fool) then He give you your Staff again, for I my self was never more Fool then so: