N00441:60
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.
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.
Secondly, That which Inflames the Discontent of men, is usually the Condition which they see their Neighbours in. Indeed ENVY most properly seems to fall under the Crimes that are Branded by the Fifth Commandment of our God; it is a Disposition to Diminish the just Greatness of our Neighbours. But there is a Roving and a Ranging of the Soul, after what our Neighbour has, and a Grudging at his Prosperity, which the Tenth more peculiarly stigmatizes. Although we do not go so far, as to consent with our wills unto the doing of any unjust thing, for Dispossessing our Neighbour of what God has given him, yet of our Souls have any ⟨p. 42⟩stirrings, and bubblings, and loose Hankerings after it, here is that which brings us within the verges of Discontent. A Discontented man, may be willing that his Neighbour should still enjoy his Place, his Life, his Bed, his Estate, and his Esteem; nevertheless the view of what his Neighbour has, causes him to Grudge that h•• hasn't the like. It was said of the Discontented, in Deut. 28. 34. Thou shalt b• mad for the sight of thine Eyes, which thou shalt see. A Discontented Man sees that which makes him stark mad; and what sight is that? It is the sight of what the merciful God has bestowed upon his Neighbour, and not upon himself. That's his Eye-sore; the, Light of God shining upon a Neighbours Tabernacle, is what the sore Eyes of him, are vexed at. When Ahab comes to see a Neighbours V••tyard, he is heavy, he is displeased, if he hasn't the Like. We read in Exod 16. 2. The whole Congregation murmured, and said, In the Land of Egypt, we did […] by the Flesh Pots, and eat Bread unto the Full. A Discontented man sees, the full Table, the fine Living, the daily Pomp, that some Egyptian has; and he now makes a cruel grumbling, ⟨p. 43⟩because he hasn't the same. In Discontent, we make another's condition, the measure for our own. Our Brown Bread has not such a savoury Taste in it, because others have White. The Camel will cry for Horns, the Ox must wear a Saddle, & the Horse draw a Plough-share, whether it be suitable or no; merely because they see some in that Condition.