N01064:126
A discourse concerning earthquakes. Occasioned by the earthquakes which were in New-England, in the…
A discourse concerning earthquakes. Occasioned by the earthquakes which were in New-England, in the province of Massachusetts-Bay, June 16. and in Connecticut-Colony [sic], June 22. 1705. : Also, two sermons, showing, that sin is the greatest evil; and, that to redeem time is the greatest wisdom. / By Increase Mather.A discourse concerning earthquakes. Occasioned by the earthquakes which were in New-England, in the province of Massachusetts-Bay, June 16. and in Conecticot-Colony [sic], June 22. 1705. : Also, two sermons, shewing, that sin is the greatest evil; and, that to redeem time is the greatest wisdom. / By Increase Mather.
Boston: printed by Timothy Green for Benjamin Eliot, 1706
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
When men are careful not to let slip opportunities of doing good, so far as they are c• pable, and God shall call them to it, they Redeem the Time. They know not how soon their opportunities may be taken from them, and therefore are concerned to improve them well; which to do is to Redeem the Time, and to do like Wise men. Wherefore the Apostle said to the Ephesians, See that you walk Circumspectly, not as Fools, but as Wise, Redeeming the Time, b• cause the days are Evil, Eph. 5. 15, 16. It was then a time of Persecution; they had reason to expect that their Persecutors would take from them their Estates, ⟨p. 95⟩and all their opportunities of either getting or doing Good, and therefore were to use their present Advantages. A Christian that is desirous to do all, the Good he can, and does embrace all Opportunities accordingly, is one that Redeems the Time.
When men are careful not to let slip opportunities of doing good, so far as they are c• pable, and God shall call them to it, they Redeem the Time. They know not how soon their opportunies may be taken from them, and therefore are concerned to improve them well; which to do is to Redeem the Time, and to do like Wise men. Wherefore the Apostle said to the Ephesians, See that you walk Circumspectly, not as Fools, but as Wise, Redeeming the Time, b• cause the dayes are Evil, Eph. 5. 15, 16. It was then a time of Persecution; they had reason to expect that their Persecutors would take from them their Estates, ⟨p. 95⟩and all their opportunities of either getting or doing Good, and therefore were to use their present Advantages. A Christian that is desirous to do all, the Good he can, and does embrace all Opp•rtunities accordingly, is one that Redeems the Time.