N01064:76
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.
I Answer. The Soul is not subject to a Natural, only to a Spiritual Death. There is a Three-fold misery which sin brings upon the Souls of men, which are the Souls Death.
1. It causeth a separation to be made between the Blessed GOD and the Soul. That's the greatest Misery that possibly can be, and the saddest Death. For in Gods Favour and Friendship there is Life; yea, His loving Kindness is better than Life, Psal. 63. 3. Therefore to be cast out of His Favour is the greatest Death. If the Con•••• Pipes are removed from the Fountain, from whence they receive all the water that is in them, no water can flow into them. God is the Fountain of living Water. The Soul that is separated from Him has no Life in it. Now Sin and that only, is the Evil that separates the Soul from God: I•a. 59. 2. Your Iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your Sins have hid His Face from you. Sin dissolves the league of Amity between God and the souls of men; Jer▪ 6. 8. Be instructed O. Jerusalem, lest my Soul depart from thee. My Soul, says the Lord is united to you, ( viz. in respect of the Covenant between God & them) but if you ⟨p. 55⟩sin I'll be your Friend no longer. Men by their sins bid God depart from them, Job 21. 14. They say unto God, Depart from us, for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. Therefore He does depart from them, and then their Life, yea the Life of their soul is gone.
1. It causeth a separation to be made between the Blessed GOD and the Soul. That's the greatest Misery that possibly can be, and the saddest Death. For in Gods Favour and Friendship there is Life; yea, His loving Kindness is better than Life,