N01064:136
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.
III. It is but a short-Time that men have to be in this world. The Time that is past can not be recalled, & that which remains will soon be gone: And therefore it is great Wisdom to Redeem it, to improve it so as to answer the End for which God has given it to us. The Apostle to take men off from being overmuch concerned about temporal things, •ayes, The time is short, 1 Cor. 7. 29. The time is Contracted, or Furled as the Original word there imports. Mariners when they come into the Harbour, Furl their Sails; and then they quickly Land. Thus it won't be long before we come to an End of our Voyage. A short Time will Land us all in Eternity, Job says, Man ⟨p. 104⟩that is born of a Woman is of few Days▪ Job 14. 1. He that is born of a Woman brings Sin, and therefore brings Death into the world with him, which in a while will put an End to his Time in this world. David says, that his Days were but an hands breadth; but a span long, Psal. 39. 5. A span was the shortest measure in use among the Hebrews; wherefore that is made use of to denote the brevity of mans life. And the Apostle says, What is your Life? It is a Vapour which appeareth a little time, and then vanisheth away, Jam. 4. 14. How soon does a vapour or a little smoke in the Air vanish? Hence our time on the Earth is called a Pilgrimage. Here we are Strangers and Travellers. Travellers don't use to abide long in a place. They are here to day and gone to morrow. An Inn is not an home to dwell in, but to sojourn in for a short time. This world is only an Inn. Strangers should be careful what they do, and how they behave themselves. So should Christians while•• in this world: •. Pet. 1. 17. Pass the time of your sojourning here in Fear. Nothing can be more Foolish than for men to dream of Immortality in this world. It was a vain boast of Paracelsus, that he could by ⟨p. 105⟩