N01064:91
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.
2. It is the Character of a Child of God, that he would rather choose any evil than the least sin. He had rather suffer any thing, than comply with that which he believeth is sin, 1 Job 3. 9. He that is born of God cannot sin So far as he is born of God, of as things in the world, he cannot end […] sin; some persons have in their nature an Antipathy against certain things, & if those things are forced upon them they will oppose and strive to the […] most of their life. Such an Antipathy there is in the heart of a true Child of God against Sin. Not but that the holiest Saints on earth do often sin, but then it is either through' ignorance; they do not know that what they do is sin A sincere Christian sometimes does that which is sinful, which if he did but see the sin in that thing, he would ⟨p. 71⟩sooner die, than do as he doth.; or else it is because they are under the present power of temptation: When they come out of that temptation, they will abhor themselves for what they have done, & do so no more, Job 40. 4. & 42. 6. When a Child of God is himself, he will rather submit to the most tormenting death, then consent to the least sin, as you heard but now the Hebrew Martyrs did. And if we read Martyrologies, we shall meet with many Instances confirming the Truth before us. One had his life offered to him, on condition that he would give •at one halfpenny towards the building of an Idolatrous Temple, but he chose rather to suffer the most cruel death that his Enemies could in••ict upon him. Others have been pro•••ed life if they would be present at in Idolatrous Worship, though but for the time; they would rather die than commit that sin.
2. It is the Character of a Child of God, that he would rather chuse any evil than the least sin. He had rather suffer any thing, than comply with that which he believeth is sin, 1 Job 3. 9. He that is born of God cannot sin So far as he is born of God, of as things in the world, he cannot end sin; some persons have in their nature an Antipathy against certain things, & if those things are forced upon them they will oppose and strive to the most of their life. Such an Antipathy there is in the heart of a true Child of God against Sin. Not but that the holiest Saints on earth do often sin, but then it is either thro' ignorance; they do not know that what they do is sin A sincere Christian sometimes does that which is sinful, which if he did but see the sin in that thing, he would