N00393:228
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
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.
ECCLES. VIII. 5. A wise man's heart discerneth TIME
The Famous Writer of these Words was that Royal Preacher, Solomon. After much Experience of the World, and after much Repentance for that Experience, i.e drew up a Treatise De summo bono, concerning the chief Good of man. The penitent and inspired Monarch, having arrived unto the Top of this world, pities the poor men whom he sees toiling and sweating to get up the rocky hill after him, and expecting to find Happiness there; & with a loud voice he gives this warning to them, Sirs, You will be all mistaken, you will meet with nothing but Vanity […] Vexation here.
THe Famous Writer of these Words was that Royal Preacher, Solomon. After much Experience of the World, and after much Repentance for that Experience, i.e drew up a Treatise De summo bono, concerning the chief Good of man. The penitent and inspired Monarch, having arrived unto the Top of this world, pitties the poor men whom he sees toiling and sweating to get up the rocky hill after him, and expecting to find Happiness there; & with a loud voice he gives this warning to them, Sirs, You will be all mistaken, you will meet with nothing but Vanity 〈…〉 Vexation here.
The Context […] contains the Reflections of the wise prince on the Countenance which he ⟨p. 66⟩had given to public and open Idolatry in Israel and the compliance which they that should have advised the contrary yielded thereunto. Men seek out many inventions to excuse themselves from bearing an humble but a faithful Testimony against any sinful thing which their Superiors may invite them to. One of these Inventions is mentioned in the fourth verse of this Chapter; it is drawn from the Uncontrollable Power of them that sometimes enjoin a sinful thing. To this Excuse we have a two-fold Answer in the fifth verse. We have two things in it. First, the Good of Religion. Tis said, Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing. q d. Be true to Gods Commandments & thy own Conscience, let who will be offended at it; the wonderful providence of the Almighty will in the mean time be concerned for thy Safety and Security. A man gets no real Hurt by doing of his Duty. Secondly, the Need of Discretion. Tis said A wise mans heart discerneth both Time and Judgment. q. d. In the doing of this, and every other Duty, two things are to be much regarded. Mind the Season of the duty, and mind the Manner of the duty: much harm will thereby be prevented in discharging of it. Tis the former of these two Regardables that I would now insist upon. Behold a general Rule applied unto a particular Case: the Case is, the Rebuking and Refusing of Sin; but the Rule is, A wise