N02345:117
The vial poured out upon the sea. A remarkable relation of certain pirates brought…
The vial poured out upon the sea. A remarkable relation of certain pirates brought unto a tragical and untimely end. Some conferences with them, after their condemnation. Their behaviour at their execution. And a sermon preached on that occasion. : [Two lines from Job]
Boston: printed by T. Fleet for N. Belknap, 1726
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.
II. The second Thing before us, is, A much worse unhappiness that befalls the most of men, and the worst unhappiness that any Man can have befalling of him. The most of Men, die before they have arrived unto the only true Wisdom. Few Men are wise before they Dy. Thus this clause is well carried by Expositors; Prius moriuntur quam quicquam intellexerunt de Divina Sapientia. They Die before they know what Wisdom is: They die strangers, to Divine, Real, Saving Wisdom. All Men are, born ⟨p. 33⟩Fools. We read, Job 11.12. Born like the wild-Asses Colt. And the most of Men Die Fools. The lives of Men are generally spent in Folly. And they die before the cure of their Folly.
II. The second Thing before us, is, A much worse unhpppiness that befalls the most of men, and the worst unhappiness that any Man can have befalling of him. The most of Men, dy before they have arrived unto the only true Wisdom. Few Men are wise before they Dy. Thus this clause is well carried by Expositors; Prius moriuntur quam quicquam intellexerunt de Divina Sapientia. They Dy before they know what Wisdom is: They dy strangers, to Divine, Real, Saving Wisdom. All Men are, born ⟨p. 33⟩Fools. We read, Job 11.12. Born like the wild-Asses Colt. And the most of Men Dy Fools. The lives of Men are generally spent in Folly. And they dy before the cure of their Folly.
We will Enquire; First, Whence it proceeds, that the most of Men, die before they arrive unto Wisdom? You may be sure, The Fall of Man is the cause of this evil. Man was ambitious of Wisdom. The Temptation of the Forbidden Fruit was, A Tree to be desired, to make one wise. But Man by his Fall has lost his Wisdom. A Darkness is come upon his Mind. His perverse Mind is now naturally disposed unto Error. He is naturally Ignorant, and out of the way. His Faculties, to discern wisely what is Right and Good, are horribly wounded by his Fall from God. It is now come to pass, that the Children of Men come under that Character;