N00524:71
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.
Thirdly, Let every manner of ⟨p. 46⟩Person be put upon all manner of Prayer, in the Fear of God.
You might indeed upon this Topic be argued with: Let the privilege and advantage of Prayer, inspire you with a very prayerful Disposition of Soul. The Privilege of Prayer, how high is it! Prayer, it is, as we read in Heb. 10. 22. A Drawing Near to God. The Immortal King of Heaven, when He bids us to pray, does hold out His Golden Sceptre unto us, and say, Sinners, you may Draw Near; tho' you have by your Sins Forsaken me; yet you may by your Prayers Draw Near again unto me; and ask me now far more than the Half of […] Kingdom, I am ready to bestow it upon you. Accordingly, The Advantage of Prayer, how •ich is it! Our God has Assured us, in Isa. 45. 19. I said not unto the Seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain. In vain! Truly No: most Gracious Lord; Thou hast said, Seek the Lord, and ye shall Live. There is in the Covenant of God, and Insurance-Office ⟨p. 47⟩Erected; where, every one, that Ventures in the Ship of Prayer, has the Returns of his Ventures gloriously secured unto him. I may call you, That our Merciful God, will rather work Miracles of Mercy, than Leave the Prayers of His Children Unanswered. Fires have bin Quenched, Lions have been Muzzled, Prisons have been Opened, Dead men have been Raised, Rains have been fetched, and the World it self has bin stopped in its Diurnal Whi•l, at the Prayers of men Subject unto like passions with our selves. Prayer, tis that which gains a sort of a Victory, even over the Invisible World; the Almighty God Himself says to Prayer, Except thou Let me alone, I cannot proceed with Destroying Dispensations; and Prayer says to the Almighty God Himself, I will not Let thee Go, except thou Bless me. Let our Distress be what it will, That is the Relief, in