N02458:45
Ignorantia scientifica. A brief essay on mans not knowing his time: the just inferences…
Ignorantia scientifica. A brief essay on mans not knowing his time: the just inferences from it, and the great advantages of it. : Upon a special and mournful occasion. : [Seven lines of quotations]
printed by B. Green for Samuel Gerrish, 1727
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.
'Tis a crime, that will ripen People for the punishments which use to come upon Sinners, when they have quite filled up the measure of their Iniquity. We have seen fearful Examples of Persons, that have gone to Forbidden-ways of coming at the knowledge of their Time, and they have never seen one Good Day after it. When Soul was gone so far, as to consult a Witch, Then the wrath of GOD would bear no longer with him!
'Tis a crime, that will ripen People for the punishments which use to come upon Sinners, when they have quite fill'd up the measure of their Iniquity. We have seen fearful Examples of Persons, that have gone to Forbidden-ways of coming at the knowledge of their Time, and they have never seen one Good Day after it. When Soul was gone so far, as to consult a Witch, Then the wrath of GOD would bear no longer with him!
II WE must not know our Time; Then 'tis a Folly for us, to presume upon a Time, which our GOD has given us no Assurance of. Such is the Folly of them, who presume upon an Happy Time, while they make it a Time of Impiety, a Time of Impenitence, a Day of Provocation. O presumptuous ones, In all the word of GOD, where have you a promise of an Happy Time, for ungodly People, going on still in their Trespasses? Yea, such is the Folly of all, who presume that their Time will always be just what it is. For Men to Dream that all things will continue Long unaltered from what they are at this Time: Let me tell you, This. Dream is usually a very deadly Symptom. When Men are most Secure, and are Fearless of any Alteration upon their Circumstances; Then 'tis, that the Deadliest Alterations are most near unto them. An Old Man brags, he is as Well and Strong as he has been these Many Years; he hopes he shall yet see Many Years. He Dies this Year! Oh! Don't fall into a Dead Sleep of Security. 'Tis a tremendous ⟨p. 17⟩passage; [And mark what I tell you, There are whole Nations that will VERY QUICKLY have it fulfilled upon them!]