N00441:27
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.
However, at the Intercession of our Dressers, we are spared yet one year more ⟨p. 13⟩to see whether any good Fruit can at last be obtained from us. And therefore I do with an Importunity, which I wish may be Ungainsayable, beseech of all my Neighbours, That we may all as one man, consider the manifold Guiltiness which the Catalogue of our sins has now set in order before us, and most humbly apply our selves to God in Christ, for his Forgiveness of our former Misbehaviours, and for his Assistance to a better Conversation. There is this one thing, l'le venture to do; I do boldly charge all Impenitent [and such are all Inconsiderate!] Sinners, as the most Real Troublers of our Land: If any Counsel though never so wise, though never so goods, have not prospered with us, we have been ready with a Turkish Fury, to fly upon the men that gave it, as the Authors of all the Disastrous Events that followed. But, as when the Roman Emperor upbraided his General •erentius, for Loosing of a Battle, he Replied, Sir, I am to tell you, 'tis, you that lost the Day for us, by your open fighting against the God of Heaven, as you do! so would I say, to those among us, that Live not according to the Rules of ⟨p. 14⟩Godliness, and Righteousness and Sobriety; 'Tis you that still undermine the best Counsels that can be given for our safety. Wherefore I take leave to add, Brethren, we shall not only save our own souls, but also do a service to the public; if we may every one of us, be able to say, I thought on my ways, and I turned my Feet unto the Testimonies of the Lord.
However, at the Intercession of our Dressers, we are spared yet one year more ⟨p. 13⟩to see whether any good Fruit can at last be obtained from us. And therefore I do with an Importunity, which I wish may be Ungainsayable, beseech of all my Neighbours, That we may all as one man, consider the manifold Guiltiness which the Catalogue of our sins has now set in order before us, and most humbly apply our selves to God in Christ, for his Forgiveness of our former Misbehaviours, and for his Assistance to a better Conversation. There is this one thing, l'le venture to do; I do boldly charge all Impenitent [and such are all Inconsiderate!] Sinners, as the most Real Troublers of our Land: If any Counsel though never so wise, though never so goods, have not prospered with us, we have been ready with a Turksh Fury, to fly upon the men that gave it, as the Authors of all the Disastrous Events that followed. But, as when the Roman Emperor upbraided his General erentius, for Loosing of a Battel, he Reply'd, Sir, I am to tell you, 'tis, you that lost the Day for us, by your open fighting against the God of Heaven, as you do! so would I say, to those among us, that Live not according to the Rules of