N03999:62
Captives bound in chains, made free by Christ their surety
Captives bound in chains, made free by Christ their surety: or, The misery of graceless sinners, and their recovery by Christ their Saviour. By T. Doolittel [sic]. ; [Three lines from Isaiah]
Boston: printed by Rogers & Fowle for J. Edwards, 1742
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Liberty to the Captives. › Chapter 4: The Second Chain is Prejudice.
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.
nay, when it is more than thou canst tell, whether thou shall be out of Hell an hour or two? Is this the man, that is so merry? Is this the man that pleads so much for pleasure and delight? Is this the man indeed that would spend his present time in joy and gladness? If this man should die to day, how soon would his tone be altered? How soon, alas how soon, would his tune be changed?
What think you all that hear me this day, that know and understand the dreadful danger of a graceless, christless, unconverted sinner? can you see him sporting with delight about the brink of Hell, and not fear and tremble, least ye see him falling down into it? Can you see him so Jocund, when so near the place of utter darkness, and not stand amazed at his boldness and his blindness? Do not your hearts pity such a one, though he hath no pity for himself? Come sinner, judge thy self, if of all men in the world thou hast any cause of such a ⟨p. 48⟩joyful life thou pleadest for; and whether if thou wouldest lead a cheerful life indeed; it would not be thy wiser, surer, safer course to leave thy serving of the Devil and thy lusts, and to break thy cords and chains wherewith thou hast been bound, and held captive so many years as thou hast been.
What think you all that hear me this day, that know and understand the dreadful danger of a graceless, christless, unconverted sinner? can you see him sporting with delight about the brink of Hell, and not fear and tremble, least ye see him falling down into it? Can you see him so Jocund, when so near the place of utter darkness, and not stand amazed at his boldness and his blindness? Do not your hearts pity such a one, though he hath no pity for himself? Come sinner, judge thy self, if of all men in the world thou hast any cause of such a ⟨p. 48⟩joyful life thou pleadest for; and whether if thou wouldest lead a chearful life indeed; it would not be thy wiser, surer, safer course to leave thy serving of the Devil and thy lusts, and to break thy cords and chains wherewith thou hast been bound, and held captive so many years as thou hast been.