First, that particular sin must be known which is the cause of this violent distress. And here we are to know by the way- that it is an usual thing with the parties thus distressed, to dissemble and cloak their sins- and therefore they will allege, that their trouble ariseth from some evil thoughts, from wicked affections, and from the corruption of nature- whereas commonly men are not distressed in violent manner, for evil thoughts, affections...

If we are not in good earnest in religion, and our wills and inclinations be not strongly exercised, we are nothing. The things of religion are so great, that there can be no suitableness in the exercises of our hearts, to their nature and importance, unless they be lively and powerful. In nothing is vigor in the actings of our inclinations so requisite, as in religion- and in nothing is lukewarmness so odious.

Some are so well pleased with their present advantages, in promotions, dignities, and wealth, as their interest, that they cannot endure to think of these things. Whatever warnings are portended of approaching judgments, they look on them as the threatening of such as have ill-will against them, and would have these things to portend their trouble. Guilt makes them fearful and sensible, and they think it best to hide those things from themselves, which, if they are so, they cannot remedy. To free us from this miscarriage also, this unanswerableness to the mind of God in his present dispensation, we may consider, -- 1. That a deep consideration of, and inquiry into, the mind of God in such a season as we have described, is required of us in a way of duty. It is our sin to neglect it, and that attended with many aggravations

When the same provocations and evils are found in one nation,-which have brought down the wrath of God upon another nation--this is an evident sign of God's judgment at the door. For God is-unchangeably holy and just, and will not favour that in one people,-which he hath punished in another- nor bless that in one age, which-he hath cursed in another. And therefore that which hath been a sign-of judgment to one, must be so to all.

Moses felt that none could measure the might of the Lord's wrath. Even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. Good men dread that wrath beyond conception, but they never ascribe too much terror to it- bad men are dreadfully convulsed when they awake to a sense of it, but their horror is not greater than it had need be, for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God. Holy Scripture when it depicts God's wrath against sin never uses an hyperbole- it would be impossible to exaggerate it. C H Spurgeon

Many that are past their youth put off salvation to a supposed more convenient season... when they get through such particular affairs in which they are now involved... when they hope they shall be more at liberty... or until they get into more convenient circumstances. - -2.- There are many that delay and put off without fixing any time in their mind... hoping for a more convenient future time... -The present time appears peculiarly inconvenient... we then don't feel a great opposition... or have so many temptations... or hope it will be better with them... when they don't feel such an aversion to seeking salvation.

The prison is strong that holds them. Delivered up into the hands of Satan... against whom they have no strength. And his cruelty is as strong as his power. And what is much more than devils, God confines them... irreversible sentence binds them. Omniscience opposes them.

A letter to a Minister of the Church of Scotland being remarks on the pamphlet, -The State of Religion in New England..- written by A M a Church of England minister, A Vindication and Confirmation of the Remarkable Work of God in England George Whitefield, August 31, 1742 From Whitefield's Collected Works Volume 4 1st edition

This diary covers some of the background incidents witnessed near the time of the Salem Witch Trials. But no mention is made of the trials, because Cotton Mather was never involved. It was only suggested after 1831 when Charles Upham in -Salem Witchcraft Volumes 1 - II attempted to place him there and make him responsible.- Because of this, I narrated the introduction to a refutation of Upham's work published in the North American Review for 1869. William Frederick Poole, Cotton Mather and Salem Witchcraft, at the end of the diary narration. For more information, the listener is referred to a Sunday School class I taught on this subject. That lesson is here SID-9319106536637

Ah - if you have the hearts of parents in you, think how sad a consideration this will be to you, that those who are so dear to you, should be the objects of God's wrath - those you have been so tender over, and have so often put into your bosoms, must lie under eternal torments, and their bed be made in hell - If you have any good thing yourselves, you cannot withhold it from them- if you be feasted abroad, and they pining at home, the greatest dainties do you no good. Why now unless they be taught the knowledge of Christ, and a saving change pass upon them, when you shall sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of God, abundantly satisfied with the fatness of his house, and drinking of the rivers of his pleasure, they shall be shut out- nature teaches you to feel the pains of their bodies, and cannot grace teach you to sympathize with the misery of their poor wretched souls - Well the day is coming, if they die Christ-less, that they will wish they had been the generation of tigers, or off-spring of dragons, rather than your children- and when you can have them no more, you know who must and will.-