N01064:69
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.
3. Sin strikes at the very Being of God. Men by sin deny the God that is above. They say that there is no such God in Heaven, as his Word and Works declare that there is; Psal. 14. 1. The Fool has said in his Heart that there is no God. Sinners are fighters against God, and haters of Him. They are called, the Haters of the Lord, Psal. 81. 15. He that hates another, wisheth him out of the world. Sin is a Practical denial of the Essential Attributes of God. It denies the Omnipresence, and so the Omniscience of God, without which He could not be God. Sinners are apt to think, that if there is a God, that He is afar off in Heaven, and not on the Earth. As I remember Calvin on Psal. 115. 16. speaks of one, who in an Atheistical way, would recite that Scripture, which says, The Heaven of Heavens are the Lords, but the Earth has He given to the Children of men. God keeps Himself in Heaven said he, but he is not concerned what men do on ⟨p. 45⟩the Earth; immediately he was smitten with horrible Torment in his bowels, & then he Cried out, O God have Mercy on me! O God have Mercy on me! One present upbraided him, saying, But now thou saidst God did not know what is done on the Earth, why then do•t thou in thy misery, Cry to Him for help and mercy! But what does the Lord say to such Atheistical men? Jer. 23. 23, 24. Am I a God at hand, says the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places, that I should not see him? Do not I fill Heaven and Earth; says the Lord? The Lord complains of the Jews, that they said, the Lord sees us not, the Lord has forsaken the Earth, Ezek 8. 12. Not that they said so in words. If any one had asked them, Do you not think that the Lord seeth you? They would certainly have said, Yes, we do believe it. But the Language of their sinful actions was, The Lord seeth us not. A sinner denies and defies the Almighty Power of God; Job 15. 25. He stretches out his hand against God, and strengthens himself against the Almighty. Hence sinners are said to Tempt God, and to speak against Him,