N00441:90
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.
Let us compare our Condition with our Demerit. As for our Blessings, They are ⟨p. 72⟩far more than we have Deserved. We may say, as in Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all the Mercies. Upon every Morsel of Bread, or Drop of Water, or wink of Sleep we take, we may own, This is too Good for such a Sinner as […] As for our Troubles, they are far less than we have Deserved. We may say as Ezr. 9. 13. Thou our God hast punished us, less than our Iniquities deserve. In our worst Hours we may cry out, as a good man once under grinding pains of the Stone, Blessed be God, this is not Hell! 'Tis Hell that is my Due!
Let us compare our Condition with our Demerit. As for our Blessings, They are ⟨p. 72⟩far more than we have Deserved. We may say, as in Gen. 32. 10. I am not worthy of the least of all the Mercies. Upon every Morsel of Bread, or Drop of Water, or wink of Sleep we take, we may own, This is too Good for such a Sinner as 〈…〉 As for our Troubles, they are far less than we have Deserved. We may say as Ezr. 9. 13. Thou our God hast punished us, less than our Iniquities deserve. In our worst Hours we may cry out, as a good man once under grinding pains of the Stone, Blessed be God, this is not Hell! 'Tis Hell that is my Due!
Moreover, Let us compare our Condition, with other and better mens. I am sure, we would be loth to undergo, what is undergone, by thousands in the world, concerning whom we must nevertheless confess, That they never sinned against God, so much as we have done our selves. Yea, I'll offer you a proposal, which even the most Afflicted Person among you all, dares not, comply withal; 'Tis, That all the Sufferings of Mankind should be laid in one Heap, and you, each of you, take your equal share