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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. The first, concerning the methods wherein men ought to engage both themselves and their houses in the service of God. The second, concerning the right and best ways of redeeming time in the world. The third, concerning the carriage which we should have under trials used by God upon us. The fourth, concerning the end, which in our desires of life, we should propound unto ourselves. Preached partly at Boston, partly at Charleston. / By Cotton Mather, Pastor of a church in Boston. ; Published by a gentleman lately restored from threatening sickness; as an humble essay to serve the interest of religion, in gratitude unto God for his recovery.Small offers towards the service of the tabernacle in the wilderness. Four discourses, accommodated unto the designs of practical godliness. The first, concerning the methods wherein men ought to engage both themselves and their houses in the service of God. The second, concerning the right and best waies of redeeming time in the world. The third, concerning the carriage which we should have under trials used by God upon us. The fourth, concerning the end, which in our desires of life, we should propound unto ourselves. Preached partly at Boston, partly at Charleston. / By Cotton Mather, Pastor of a church in Boston. ; Published by a gentleman lately restored from threatning sickness; as an humble essay to serve the interest of religion, in gratitude unto God for his recovery.
Boston: printed by R. Pierce. Sold by Jos. Brunning, 1689
THE GOOD MANS RESOLUTION. › Section 11 › Excuse 3: The Third Excuse.
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.
The Third Excuse.
But the Excuse of some is, I want Utterance for Family-prayer. I would pray, but I am not gifted for it. I cannot pray. To this I answer, we often say, I cannot, when I will not, is the Bottom of it. Suppose a severe penalty were by the Magistrate laid upon every prayerless Family. Daniel, because he would pray with his Family was thrown to the Lions for it. Suppose a lighter punishment far away were to be inflicted on all them who do not pray in their Family; Suppose a Goal, or a Fine were inflicted on you for it: Would you then continue Prayerless? Behold, the great God has by the […] Laws of Heaven, orde•ed that a Prayerless-Family shall have all manner of Calamities inflicted on its, The Lions, the Devils of the pit below, shall devour the unhappy Master of such a Family. And will not ⟨p. 39⟩this make you pray? Besides, When you find that you Want things, then you don't want Words; the poor man does not want words, when he is to Ask Alms. O sit down and look upon the the Wants & Woes of your poor Family, you cannot then but have something to say for them. And what tho you cannot pray Quaintly? Yet you may pray Graciously, and pray Acceptably. Florid, Elegant Orations in your Prayers, God expecteth not; a few humble, penitent, brokenhearted Groans, are of more account with Him. Tho you Chatter like a Crane or a Swallow, as once Hezekiah did, yet the success may be wonderful and glorious. What shall I say? Moses was unwilling to do what God bade, on this very Score, in Exod. 4. 10. I am not Eloquent; But the reply of God was, Go, and I will teach thee what thou shalt say. O that you would make a Trial of it. Friend, By and by Call thy Family together; Tell them, That you must not let them remain prayerless any longer, lest the Wrath of God break out upon them. So Fall down before the Lord among them all, and pray, as well as God shall enable thee: go, I am verily persuaded, God will teach thee what thou shalt say, I am sure, thou wilt never have cause to Repent of the Attempt.