N01315:26
The young man spoken to another essay, to recommend & inculcate the maxims of…
The young man spoken to another essay, to recommend & inculcate the maxims of early religion, unto young persons; and especially the religion of the closet. In a sermon preached unto them on a special occasion. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. ; [Three lines of quotation in Latin]
Boston: printed by T. Green for Samuel Gerrish, 1712
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.
There is an Improvement, which the Great GOD has Ordered me to make of these things. There is this thing to be spoken, yea, to be Earnestly Spoken, unto the Young People in this Assembly of Zion: Oh! Take a due Notice of the Things, which the Great GOD Orders to be spoken to you; Children, Pay a due Respect unto those things! Methinks, I overhear the Holy One saying to me, Run, Speak to these Young People. To Run, is the Motion of one in Earnest. I must now be in Earnest with you. Children, That which I am Earnestly ⟨p. 12⟩to speak unto you, is this; GOD has been speaking to you; The Mighty GOD, even the LORD hath Spoken to you. Now, Oh! Mind what He speaks; Let the Voice of God have a due, and a deep Impression upon you. What a Blessed Intercourse was that between the Great GOD, and the Child Samuel! 1 Sam. III. 10. And the Lord came, & stood & called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak for thy Servant Heareth. O Young People, The Great GOD comes, & stands, & calls unto thee very many times over; Sinner, Sinner, Soul Perishing in thy Sin, O Forsake thy Sin, and Embrace thy Saviour! Under the Admonitions of God, O Children, Be able to answer; Lord, I hear what thou speakest; and I desire to be thy Servant. The Commands, the Comforts, the Reproofs of thy Word, Lord, Thy Servant would hearken to them.
The Thing which I have to demand of you, is; That you cast no Scorn upon the Word of God; but that you Comply with the Voice of God speaking to you in His Word. The Demand is, That you Mind, and that you Do those things, which God shall speak unto you; and be ashamed ⟨p. 13⟩of not having Respect unto all His Commandments. Child, He is thy Father, and He should be, Oh! Let thy Choice make Him, the Guide of thy Youth. We read of some Young People, 1 Joh. II. 14. Ye are Strong, and the Word of God abideth in you. Oh! Give a due Reception to the Word of God. Lodge it in your Understandings, your Memories, your Affections. Hide it in your Hearts, with dispositions to be thereby Preserved and Rescued from your Sins.