N01545:105
Two discourses showing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of…Two discourses shewing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of…
Two discourses showing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of the righteous. II. The dignity & duty of aged servants of the Lord. : Also, a preface in which the Congregational discipline of the churches in New-England is vindicated, with the authors dying testimony there-unto. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]Two discourses shewing, I. That the Lords ears are open to the prayers of the righteous. II. The dignity & duty of aged servants of the Lord. : Also, a preface in which the Congregational discipline of the churches in New-England is vindicated, with the authors dying testimony there-unto. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Four lines of quotations]
printed by B. Green for Daniel Henchman, 1716
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.
1. To Young Persons. Make sure that you get into, & that you keep in the way of Righteousness I know (and I bless God) that there are some Young Men belonging to this Congregation who are in that way: Oh that there were more such! Oh that all Young ⟨p. 113⟩Men were in that way. It is a way which few there be that find it. Nevertheless, it is the good way; You cannot turn into it, too soon, but if you keep long out of it, a thousand to one you will never find it.
Consider 1. That if you would live long on the Earth, in this way you are most likely to find length of days. Psal. 34 12. What man is there that desireth life, & loveth many days? Where is there a Young Person that does not? The 14 v. tells them what they must do, Depart from evil, & do good; forsake the ways of Sin, and walk in the way of Righteousness. He that is in the way of righteousness, will abstain from those things by which life is shortened. An intemperate course of life shortens days. Excess in drinking or in eating does so. Righteousness will make Men careful to beware of such excesses. Fleshly Lusts war against the Body, as well as the Soul, ⟨p. 114⟩and destroys both. They whose life has been among the Unclean frequently dye in Youth. As for the Young Debauch, a dart strikes through his liver, as a bird when hasteth to the snare, and knows not that it is for his life. He is smitten with a Consumption of his Liver, and that in a little time puts an end to his life, Prov. 7.13. Had he been in the way of righteousness, he had lived longer. Oh then, Let Young Persons make it appear that they are in the way of righteousness, by their Obedience, as in a special manner to the Fifth which is the Commandment to which a promise of long life is annexed, so to all the Commandments of God. And being in that way hold on in it, as they that are really therein will do.