N00524:30
The day, & the work of the day. A brief discourse, on what fears…
The day, & the work of the day. A brief discourse, on what fears we may have at this time to quicken us; what hopes there are at this time to comfort us: and what prayers would be likely to turn our prayers into hopes. With reflections upon time and state, now come upon the Church of God, and collections of certain prophecies relating to the present circumstances of New-England. Uttered on a fast, kept in Boston, July 6th. 1693. / By Cotton Mather.
Boston: printed by B. Harris, 1693
Title page typeset from the transcription.
The Day, and the Work of the Day. › Proposition 1 › Inquiry 1: The First Enquiry.
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.
it is in Him that there dwells the Fullness of the God-Head Bodily.
it is in Him that there dwells the Fulness of the God-Head Bodily.
Secondly, For the Nature of Prayer, 'Tis, A presenting of our Desire. In every Prayer, there is the Desire ⟨p. 16⟩of some Good Thing; yea, but something more than such a Desire is also requisite; it must be a Desire some how brought forth unto the Lord. Prayer is that, whereof 'tis said in Phil. 4. 6. Let your Requests be made known unto God. Sometimes the Desire becomes a Prayer only in our Minds: the silent out-goings of the Soul and Will to God, are a most speaking Prayer. A Prayer may be made with Unuttered Groans, yea, with Unutterables. Thus 'tis said, in Lam. 3. 41. Let us Lift up our Heart unto God in the Heavens. This is indeed the main Ingredient of every Prayer; 'tis the most Ominous Defect of any Prayer, when the Heart shall be found wanting there. But sometimes also the Desire becomes a Prayer in our Mouths: the Arrows of Prayer are shot into Heaven with the Bow of the Tongue. A Prayer should often be a Cry, and this, Going out from Unfeigned Lips. Thus 'tis said in Hos. 14. 2. Take with you words, and Turn ⟨p. 17⟩unto the Lord: Prayer should frequently become Articulate; and indeed a main part of the Homage due to God, from and for the Organs of Speech which He has given us, is to Articulate Prayer unto Him.
Secondly, For the Nature of Prayer, 'Tis, A presenting of our Desire. In every Prayer, there is the Desire ⟨p. 16⟩