A50175:57
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.
But, How is Winter-Time to be Redeemed? We will particularize.
But, How is VVinter-Time to be Redeemed? We will particularize.
I. In the Winter we have Leisure, to Reflect upon OUR OWN WORKS; and the God of Heaven does then Expect that we should so Reflect. There are some, who take my Text in that sense; He Seals up the Hand of every man, that every man may know his own work. We have Leisure in the Winter to fettle our Jemperal Affairs, and we may then see whereabout our Work Lies; what progress, what success, we have had in our Work; and what further steps we are to take about our works The Winter-time should accordingly be a ⟨p. 14⟩Time of much Contrivance with us, and a Time to State our whole Business, for all the Year about. But more than so; our Spiritual and Eternal Affairs are those which the Winter gives us the host Leisure for; and we should now settle those by Reflecting upon our work. It was complaine• in Jer. 8.6. No man Repented him, saying, what have I done? In the Winter we have Little to Do; well, but now 'tis a Time, for us to Reflect, What have I been d•ing ever since I came into the World? The great work of Self-Examination is •ods Work; 'tis the Work whereto our God has called us. We have a Precept so, it, in Hag. 1.5. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, consider your W••s. We have a Pattern for it, in Psal. 119.59. I thought on my Ways, and I turned my Fed unto thy Testimonies. We do the Work of God, when we thus Try what our own Works have been. When the Winter then has driven us into Retirements, Let us take Time for this Work; even to See, and Know, what Work we have been doing since our God first let us to work among the iing on the Earth. 'Tis now a Time for us to Enquire, How have I answered the End, which I came into the World upon? God has Required us, to work out our own Salvation; well, but what strokes, have we struck at that more all this while? Ask our selves, How have I done the works Agreeable to Repentance? and. How have I done the works of Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ? And herewithal bring we all our works to such an Examination, as may discover