N00524:54
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.
Once more; A Fifth End of Prayer is, That we may preserve such a good Order of Soul, at is necessary in order to our Happiness. It is said of some, in 2 Tim. 2. 22. They call on the Lord, out of a pure Heart. It is by Prayer, wherein we Call upon the Lord, that the Heart is made pure and kept what it is made. They that are often in the presence of Princes, must be always Trim, Neat, and in a fit posture. By much Prayer to the Great-King, we maintain such a posture of Spirit, as is intended when we are bidden to Pray-always. It is by our Disorderly Walking, that we gr•w shy of God; as when Adam had sinned, he then gat out of the way; and if we were not so shy of God, we should Walk less Disorderly. Yea, by Prayer we Lay new and strong Engagements upon our selves unto Well doing. We ⟨p. 31⟩speak unto our selves, when we so speak unto our God. When we Pray and say, Our Father which art in Heaven, we do after a sort Preach to our selves, and say, O my Soul, do thou Love and Serve, and Rely upon Gods, as thy Heavenly Father! When we say, sanctified be thy Name, we say, O my Soul, Do thou Sanctify that Holy Name! When we say, Thy Kingdom come, we say, O my Soul, Do thou be a Loyal Subject of that Kingdom! When we say, Thy Will be done, we say, O my Soul, Do thou never contradict that Will! Thus 'tis, that we become gloriously prepared for the Favours of God: which is indeed the Thing that He is waiting for. Lord, Thou wilt prepare the Heart of the Humble, cause thine Ear to Hear them.
Once more; A Fifth End of Prayer is, That we may preserve such a good Order of Soul, at is necessary in order to our Happiness. It is said of some, in 2 Tim. 2. 22. They call on the Lord, out of a pure Heart. It is by Prayer, wherein we Call upon the Lord, that the Heart is made pure and kept what it is made. They that are often in the presence of Princes, must be alwayes Trim, Neat, and in a fit posture. By much Prayer to the Great-King, we maintain such a posture of Spirit, as is intended when we are bidden to Pray-always. It is by our Disorderly Walking, that we gr•w shy of God; as when Adam had sinned, he then gat out of the way; and if we were not so shy of God, we should Walk less Disorderly. Yea, by Prayer we Lay new and strong Engagements upon our selves unto Well doing. We