N00524:50
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.
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.
One End of Prayer, is, That we may Reverently Realize the Attributes of that God, who is greatly to be had in Reverence by those that come about Him. 'Tis a Veneration of God, as well as a Petition to God. Our God whose Throne is in the Highest Heavens, would be Enthroned in the High Thoughts of our Souls; now 'tis by Prayer that we are put upon the Forming of such God-Adoring Thoughts. It was said, of a very praying man, in Heb. 11. 27. He saw Him, who is Invisible. In Prayer 'tis, that we, Lift up our Eyes, and so we have a more Distinct Sight of the Unseen God, in the serious and suitable Thoughts of Him, so Raised in our minds.
Again, Another End of Prayer, is, That we may reduce into Christian Practice, the chief Doctrines of Christianity. As now, to instance in ⟨p. 26⟩one or two; There is the Doctrine of the Trinity in the Unity of the God-head; the Mystery of God beholding Himself with an Essential Perception, producing ••ence an Essential Satisfaction and so Three Persons in one God, This is a most profound […]. But in Prayer, this Incomp••• […] […] Mystery, becomes practically ••••ervable and Applicable. […] […] in Eph. 2. 18. […], we both have Access, by one Spirit unto the Father. Such a process of Soul-affairs there is in our Prayers: First, God the Father as a Judge, does by the Spirit of Bondage drive us to the Lord Jesus Christ, as our Mediator: and then, the Lord Jesus Christ, as our Mediator, does by […] […] […] Adoption carry us […] to God, as our Father. So the Trinity becomes as clearly manifested unto us, […] was on the Banks […] […], to •he Spectators of our Lords […]. Thus, the whole Mediation of the ⟨p. 27⟩