N01064:139
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.
Have we not known some, and some Godly persons too, that the Fire of God from Heaven, that is Thunder and Lightning has in less than a minute struck them Dead? And have there not in our Days been Earthquakes, by means whereof Thousands have Perished, who ⟨p. 109⟩had not a quarter of an Hours warning to prepare for Death and Eternity? There are many that if they did but know how little Time they have to be in the world, would not spend it so unprofitably as they do. Wherefore Christ says, But know this, if the Good man of the House had known in what hour the Thief would come, he would have matched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up: therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as you think not, the Son of Man cometh. Many there are that if they knew that they had but one Year to live, they would improve their short time otherwise than they do. Whenas it may be they have not one Month, nor one Day to continue on this side of Eternity. We read of one that said to his Soul, Thou ha•t Goods laid up for many Years. But God said unto him, Thou Fool, this Night thy Soul shall be required of thee; then whose shall these things be which thou ha•t provided? Luk. 12. 20. Well might he be called a Fool, since he vainly presumed upon a long time to come, and had spent his past time only in providing for this world, and not for another which is Eternal, and into which he was immediate •o go. Now I• it is Folly for men considering ⟨p. 110⟩the uncertainty of their Lives to neglect the present opportunity, then to redeem it is Wisdom. None of us know, but that this Week may be our last Week, this Day our last Day, and therefore it is Wisdom for us to Redeem our Time every Week, and every Day.
Have we not known some, and some Godly persons too, that the Fire of God from Heaven, that is Thunder and Lightning has in less than a minute struck them Dead? And have there not in our Days been Earthquakes, by means whereof Thousands have Perished, who ⟨p. 109⟩