Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…

3. The time of prosperity is a season which ought to be well improve. Thus you find David calling upon the Princes of Israel, 1 Chron. 22.11, 18, 19. Is not the Lord your God with you? hath he not given you rest on every side? now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God. It is (saith he) a prosperous season with you, and therefore now be looking after God, & the things of God; and indeed this is the most commodious season. ⟨p. 153⟩Husbandmen you know will take the season whilst the Sun shineth, and the weather is favourable, to be gathering in the fruits of the earth: So if men would be laying in for Eternity, if they would be laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold of Eternal Life, it will be their wisdom to improve the time of prosperity in order thereunto. As now, if God give unto a man a time of health & strength, let him improve it, in order to making his peace with God, and promoting the Eternal welfare of his own Soul. Thus the Holy Ghost by Solomon doth exhort, Eccles. 12.1. Remember thy Creator; Aye, but when? When old age cometh, or when sickness or death cometh, but never before that; to the Carnal heart saith, and so the Devil saith, but the Lord teacheth otherwise; therefore it is added, In the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. The evil days of sickness, or the troublesome years of old age will come upon you; but see that you remember to make your peace with God, before those days come. So again, if the Lord bestow upon a man an estate, & cause him to prosper in the World in that respect, let him improve this, to honour God with his substance, and wisely make unto himself Friends in Heaven, with the unrighteous ⟨p. 154⟩Mammon of this World. And truly if men do neglect such seasons, they have no reason to expect other, but that God will deprive them of them, and alter the tenor of his glorious Dispensations towards them. As it was said to Esther, who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdom for such a time as this? if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, thou and thy Fathers house shall be destroyed,