A50162:282
Small offers towards the service of the tabernacle in the wilderness four discourses accommodated…
Small offers towards the service of the tabernacle in the wilderness four discourses accommodated unto the designs of practical godliness : preached partly at Boston, partly at Charleston / by Cotton Mather ; published by a gentleman lately restored from threatening sickness as a humble essay to serve the interest of religion, in gratitude unto God for his recovery.
Boston: printed by R. Pierce, 1689
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.
Gold is a pure metal. Hence we read near some scores of times in the sacred Scripture, about pure Gold. It will not readily admit a Mixture▪ or an Alloy with more imperfect Metals; unless with Silver: Especially the Dust-gold of Guinea, Gold whereof Job saith, tis Dust of gold: wonderful is the Purity thereof! Thus a good man is a pure man; He is one of those that are called in Matth. 5. 8. The pure in heart: He is pure in his Ends, pure in his principles, pure in his practises, pure from the dross of Lust: and he is not so much Nominally as really, A Puritan.
Gold is a pure metal. Hence we read near some scores of times in the sacred Scripture, about pure Gold. It will not readily admit a Mixture▪ or an Alloy with more imperfect Metals; unless with Silver: Especially the Dust-gold of Guinea, Gold whereof Iob saith, tis Dust of gold: wonderful is the Purity thereof! Thus a good man is a pure man; He is one of those that are called in Matth. 5. 8. The pure in heart: He is pure in his Ends, pure in his principles, pure in his practises, pure from the dross of Lust: and he is not so much Nominally as really, A Puritan.
Again▪ Gold is a Ductile Metal. Tis marvellously extensible when beaten into Leaves; twere incredible to tell how far one Grain of Gold may be extended and continued. So dense and compacted, and united, are the parts of it, that an Ounce of it may be beaten (I suppose) into a Thousand Leaves. Thus a good Man can be Drawn forth into large Expressions of goodness and virtue. It was said by such an one in Psal. 11. 3. My goodness Extendeth. He extends his Piety, his Charity, he extends his lnfluence far and near; and he is a Diffusive good.