N00441:91
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.
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 ⟨p. 73⟩out of the common Heap. Would you like your Dividend in that proportion? I doubt not. Then like what you have Or, see whether your Hardships are like those in Heb 11. 37. 38. They wandered about in Sheep-skins, and Goat-skins, being destitute afflicted, tormented, and yet the world not worthy of them. Yea; when our Lord Jesus Christ himself came among us; how was it? It was truly, In form• pa•peris! 'Tis said, in 2 Cor. 8 9. He became poor.' He once brought in an Inventory of his visible Estate; and how much, do you think it was? The Sum Total was, The Son of Man has not where to lay his Head. And because he would not refuse to pay his Rate, he works a Miracle to get Fifteenpence, for his doing of it, Nay, there was no fort of Misery which did not befall our Lord; Tho' he were, Gods Beloved Son, yet he was also, A man of Sorrows. The worst that we meet withal, is but a little splinter of that Cross on which our Lord was Crucified.
Moreover, Let us compare our Condition, with other and better mens. I am sure, we would be lo•h 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'le 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 ⟨p. 73⟩out of the common Heap. Would you like your Dividend in that proportion? I doubt not. Then like what you have Or, see whether your Hardships are like those in Heb 11. 37. 38. They wandred about in Sheep-skins, and Goat-skins, being destituter afflicted, tormented, and yet the world not worthy of them. Yea; when our Lord Jesus Christ himself came among us; how was it? It was truly, In form paperis! 'Tis said, in