N00731:74
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.
3. It is the property of a fool to refuse a good offer. When that is offered to him, which would make him happy, if he had an heart and wisdom to embrace it, he foolishly neglects his opportunity. Prov 17.16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it. Thus it is with Sinners: They have Spiritual Riches offered to them in the Gospel; they are told of that which will enrich their Souls, and make them for ever. The Unsearchable Riches of Christ will do so. And that is freely offered to them in the Gospel. Where that is preached, God from Heaven makes an offer of his Son to be an Husband and a Saviour to every Soul that will believe on him; but foolish Sinners make light of this offer, although they never had, nor never shall have another offer like unto it. Mat 22.4.5. All things are ready; come unto the Marriage, but they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his Farm, and another to his Merchandise. And are not they fools that will refuse an offered Christ for a Farm? And all the Riches of the Son of God, the Heir of all things, for the Merchandise of this world? ⟨p. 80⟩Christ also offereth himself in the Gospel, but Sinners refuse him. Wisdom, that is Christ, complains of this folly in Sinners. Prov. 1.24, 25. I have called, and ye refused, I have stretched out my hand and no man regarded, but ye have set at naught all my counsel. And that which addeth to the folly, is, that Sinners do thus again and again, many a time and often. The Lord Jesus Christ is graciously pleased to offer himself to them with all his saving benefits, but they continue in their refusals of him. Mat.23.37. O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, h•w often would I have gathered thy Children together, as an hen gathereth her Chickens under her wings, and ye would not. Thus did they go on to reject the happiest offer that ever was made unto men.
3. It is the property of a fool to refuse a good offer. When that is offered to him, which would make him happy, if he had an heart and wisdom to embrace it, he foolishly neglects his opportunity. Prov 17.16. Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it. Thus it is with Sinners: They have Spiritual Riches offered to them in the Gospel; they are told of that which will enrich their Souls, and make them for ever. The Unsearchable Riches of Christ will do so. And that is freely offered to them in the Gospel. Where that is preached, God from Heaven makes an offer of his Son to be an Husband and a Saviour to every Soul that will believe on him; but foolish Sinners make light of this offer, altho they never had, nor never shall have another offer like unto it. Mat 22.4.5. All things are ready; come unto the Marriage, but they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his Farm, and another to his Merchandize. And are not they fools that will refuse an offered Christ for a Farm? And all the Riches of the Son of God, the Heir of all things, for the Merchandize of this world?