N01911:222
Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…
Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D. teacher of a church at Boston, in New-England ; With a preface by Dr. Owen.Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D. teacher of a church at Boston, in New-England ; With a praeface by Dr. Owen.
Boston: printed by John Allen for John Edwards, 1721
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.
4. The time of Adversity is a season which ought likewise to he improved. Hence this Apostle saith, Redeem the time, because the days are evil, Eph. 5.16. The times were then as they are now. It was in the Apostles days a time of persecution and suffering to the people of God, therefore he calls that time an evil day. Now in this season, time was to be redeemed; the worse the times are, the better Christians ought to be; if the times be very bad, Christians ought to be very good. Hence also is that, 2 Tim. 4. ⟨p. 155⟩2. Preach the Word, be instant in season, and out of season In season, is in time of prosperity; out of season is a time of Adversity, when a man cannot preach, nor hear a Sermon, without incurring danger; yet such times must be improved to be doing & receiving good. If the times be bad, then the Lord threatens men, to deprive them of seasons of Grace, and in that respect there is the more need to improve them. And this is a special thing intended by the Apostle in the Text. Walk in wisdom redeeming the time. Show your wisdom (saith he) by making the best of a bad Market. As wise Merchants, if the times be bad, will be more wary; if Trading be dead and low they will be loth to venture upon a bad bargain, or to let slip the advantage of a good bargain. Thus should men deal as to their souls; as for seasons of grace, they should see that they husband them well, especially when the Lord is threatening to take them away.
4. The time of Adversity is a season which ought likewise to he improved. Hence this Apostle saith, Redeem the time, because the days are evil, Eph. 5.16. The times were then as they are now. It was in the Apostles days a time of persecution and suffering to the people of God, therefore he calls that time an evil day. Now in this season, time was to be redeemed; the worse the times are, the better Christians ought to be; if the times be very bad, Christians ought to be very good. Hence also is that, 2 Tim. 4. ⟨p. 155⟩