A50175:39
Winter meditations directions how to employ the leisure of the winter for the glory…
Winter meditations directions how to employ the leisure of the winter for the glory of God : accompanied with reflections as well historical as theological, not only upon the circumstances of winter, but also upon the notable works of God, both in creation and Providence ... / by Cotton Mather ; with a preface of John Higginson.
Boston: printed by Benj. Harris, 1693
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.
That there are Special Duties of Christianity, belonging to the winter, i• intimated, in the words now Read unto us; and it is also intimated, what those Christian Duties are. Tis Piety that the winter should advance any further upon us, before we have had some discourse of these Duties: To be minding one another of these things, would be more Significant, and more Profitable, than our impertinent expense of time, in telling one another That it is very Cold.
That there are Special Duties of Christianity, belonging to the winter, i• intimated, in the words now Read unto us; and it is also intimated, what those Christian Duties are. Tis Piety that the winter should advance any further upon us, before we have had some discourse of these Duties: To be minding one another of these things, would be more Significant, and more Profitable, than our impertinent expence of time, in telling one another That it is very Cold.
Tis possible that your Devotions here in this winter-season, put you upon some Trial of your Patience. But I have an occasion here to tell you; You have heard of the Patience of JOB. He was a Person of Quality, who dwelt in Arabia the Desert, and yet that Arabia could not but be the Happy while it enjoyed the Presence of such a Ruler. But what a manifold Unhappiness overtook this Excellent person, and Unhappiness wherein he fell at once ⟨p. 3⟩from great Wealth and Health into Miseries that have made a Proverb, all Ages have since heard, with wonderment. In these his Miseries, he was visited by some of his Comfortable Neighbours, who yet proved but Miserable Comforters. Among these Visitants there were Three more Aged Men of God, which Venerable Saints, all took their Turns, in dealing with him, about his Condition before the Lord; but at length it came to the Turn of a Fourth, who tho' he were a Younger Person, yet stood something longer than the rest in the Disputation.
Tis possible that your Devotions here in this winter-season, put you upon some Trial of your Patience. But I have an occasion here to tell you; You have heard of the Patience of JOB. He was a Person of Quality, who dwelt in Arabia the Desrt, and yet that Arabia could not but be the Happy while it enjoyed the Presence of such a Ruler. But what a manifold Unhappiness overtook this Excellent person, and Unhappiness wherein he fell at once