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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 15 › Exception 1: The First Exception.
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 First Exception.
One person will for this Plea Exempt himself. The inferiors in my Family are very Dull: Tis an hard thing to beat into them, any sense of Eternal Concernments.
On this Pretence it is, that poor Negro's especially are kept Strangers to the way of Life: they are kept only as Ho•ses or Oxen, to do our Drudgeries; but their Souls, which are as white and good as those of other Nations, their Souls are not looked after, but are Destroyed for lack of Knowledge. This is a desperate Wickedness. But are they •ull? Then instruct them the rather; That is the Way to sharpen them. Tis said in Psal. 119. 130. The Entrance of thy word gives Understanding to the Simple. Be they never so simple, you may increase their Wit by God's Word. And are they truly Dull? Then be not you so too; Let your Labour be equal to their Dulnoss. We are told in Eccl. 10. 10. If the Iron be blunt, then a man must put to the more Strength. You must be at the trouble to stoop unto their Capacities. Be you as plain, be you as bree• in your Instructions, as they are dull in their Intellectuals, And be frequent, be patient in them; give Line upon line, and Precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. Even Gutra […] bapidem—a Stone will receive the mark of the Drop that shall often fall upon it.