N00441:17
Fair weather. Or Considerations to dispel the clouds, & allay the storms, of discontent
Fair weather. Or Considerations to dispel the clouds, & allay the storms, of discontent: in a discourse which with an entertaining variety, both of argument and history, lays open, the nature and evil of that pernicious vice, and offers diverse antidotes against it; / by Cotton Mather. ; Whereto there is prefixed a catalogue of sins against all the commandments, whereof all that would make thorough work of repentance, especially at this day when the God of heaven so loudly calls for it, should make their serious and sensible confessions before the Lord; with an humble and fervent address unto this whole people, there-about.Fair weather. Or Considerations to dispel the clouds, & allay the storms, of discontent: in a discourse which with an entertaining variety, both of argument and history, layes open, the nature and evil of that pernicious vice, and offers diverse antidotes against it; / by Cotton Mather. ; Whereto there is prefixed a catalogue of sins against all the commandments, whereof all that would make thorough work of repentance, especially at this day when the God of heaven so loudly calls for it, should make their serious and sensible confessions before the Lord; with an humble and fervent address unto this whole people, there-about.
Boston: printed by Bartholomew Green for Benjamin Harris, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Introduction: AN Humble and Faithful TESTIMONY For God, unto the Children of my People.
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.
Hence 'tis, that our own and our Neighbours Place, has not been preserved with us. Especially Family Government sinks most ominously! As for Superiors, they have not been sufficiently respected, and requited. Parents have been Grieved by our Insolence, Wastefulness, Unrea•ableness, and Incorrigibleness. Masters have been Grieved by our Eye-service, Unsubjection, Slothfulness, and Surliness. Husbands have been treated with Disesteem, ⟨p. 5⟩Frowardness, Jealousy, Imprionsness, and Ill-management. Magi••• have met with Reproaches, and […] and they have not been Assisted […] our Interests. Ministers have been […] slandered, starved, and our unfruitfulness has hastened them with sorrow to their Graves. As for Inferiors, they have not been so regarded, as they should have been. Wives have been Affronted with contempt, hatred, bitterness and unfaithfulness, Children have been Ruined with Indulgence, or provoked, with Cruelty, and had little care taken about their Immortal Souls; nor have they had an Ingenuous Education. Servants have been Compelled or Invited unto unlawful Things; and hindered in the Thing that is Good; and perhaps pinched of their Food convenient. Subjects have either been Discountenanced in what in virtuous; or Encouraged unto what is vicious; and possibly their just Liberties and Properties, and universal Welfare, has not been so guarded as might have been. People have not been watched over, with a Paternal Tenderness and Fervency; possibly Theirs may have been ⟨p. 6⟩sought […] than They; or, our Prayers, our […] our unwearied Endeavours, […] not been enough employed upon […]. As for Equals, they have ambiti••• affected a preeminence, over one another, and been full of Envy at the Greatness which they have seen God advancing their Neighbours with. In all persons, a private Spirit has prevailed, and the Times have been made perilous, by mens concernment for none but their own Cabin, while the whole Vessel has been in a Storm.
Hence 'tis, that our own and our Neighbours Place, has not been preserved with us. Especially Family Government sinks most ominously! As for Superiours, they have not been sufficiently respected, and requited. Parents have been Griev••d by our Insolence, Wastfulness, Unreaableness, and Incorrigibleness. Masters have been Grieved by our Eye-service, Unsubjection, Slothfulness, and Surliness. Husbands have been treated with Disesteem,