N01064:65
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.
For,
1. Sin is a violation of Gods Holy Law. The Scripture giveth us that description of sin, 1 Joh. 3. 4. Whosoever commits Sin transgresseth the Law, for Sin is a transgression of the Law. Men by sin transgress every Precept of the Divine Law: Jam• 2. 10. Whosoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all. In a Chain that has many Links, if ⟨p. 41⟩one of them is broken, the Chain is broken: So if one Commandment of the Law is transgressed, the whole Law is broken. Besides, It is truly asserted, that God never gave any Law, or established any Ordinance or Precept whatsoever, but it has been broken by Sin. Yet it may be truly affirmed, that the le•st tittle of Gods Law, is more dear to Him than all the World. Christ therefore said, Till Heaven and Earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled, Mat. 5. 18. So then the least •in is worse than the destruction of the world. If Heaven & Earth should Perish, there would not be so much Evil in it, as there is in the least Sin▪ The Law of God which is so dear to him, and so much valued by Him, sin is a Despising of it. It is said of sinners, that they cast His Law behind their backs; as a man does a thing which he greatly despi•eth, Neh. 9. 26. What does sin say? It says that which is very blasphemous. It says, that GOD has not Power to make such Laws. It makes His Commandments to be of none Effect, Mat. •5. 6. Sinners take away the Authority of the Law, and Jurisdiction of the Law-giver.