N01064:93
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.
Notwithstanding the hour is spent, Let me enlarge a little further in some Application of this Doctrine. It is this very day Forty four years since I began to Preach the Gospel in this place. The first Subjects I then insisted on, were concerning the Evil of Sin, and concerning the Excellency of Christ. The Lord grant (if it be ⟨p. 73⟩His will) that I may leave you, and finish my Course, insisting on the same Subjects with which I began my Public Ministry among you. And the Providence of God does oftentimes order it to be so.
Notwithstanding the hour is spent, Let me inlarge a little further in some Application of this Doctrine. It is this very day Forty four years since I began to Preach the Gospel in this place. The first Subjects I then insisted on, were concerning the Evil of Sin, and concerning the Excellency of Christ. The Lord grant (if it be ⟨p. 73⟩His will) that I may leave you, and finish my Course, insisting on the same Subjects with which I began my Publick Ministry among you. And the Providence of God does oftentimes order it to be so.
We proceed then to Apply the Doctrine. First, by way of Instruction, & several things are to be Inferred.
Inf. I. If Sin is the Greatest Evil, then to be kept and delivered from Sin is a great happiness. A man had better fall into many Afflictions, than into one Sin. It is therefore a very great mercy to be kept from falling into scandalous sins, such as Drunkenness, Uncleanness, Thefts, and the like Crimes. There have been some whom God has kept all their days, that they never fell into any sin which the World looks on as shameful & scandalous. Yea, some who are Unregenerate, and in a State of Sin, yet are they civil moral men: They have Externally kept the Commandments from their Youth up,