N00524:9
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.
It is written in Job XV. 4. Thou Castest off Fear and Restrainest Prayer before God.
IN the Dismal and the Cloudy Days, which are now come upon us, there are especially two things exceeding Seasonable; namely, Fear and Prayer.
IN the Dismal and the Cloudy Dayes, which are now come upon us, there are especially two things exceeding Seasonable; namely, Fear and Prayer.
I. The Frame of all the most agreeable to this Awful Day, is FEAR. ⟨p. 4⟩As Fear is the peculiar Plague of the Unhappy Times that are now rolling over us; for we are fallen into those Times whereof it was long since foretold, in Luc. 21. 26. Mens hearts▪ will fail them for Fear, and for Looking after those things which are coming on the Earth: So, Fear, 'tis to be the peculiar Grace of these Times: these are the Times, wherein every one, that would be safe, must follow the pattern of him, concerning whom, we are informed, in Heb. 11. 7. Being warned of God, of things not seen as yet, moved with Fear, he prepared an Ark, to the Saving of his House. There are, and one of the Ancients, tho' he saw not all things, could yet see that there ever were, four sorts of people in the world. There are some who, neither Hope nor Fear: Such are Atheistical Transgressors, to whom neither the Favour of God is Comfortable, nor His Anger Formidable. There are some who, Fear but Hope not; such are Despairing Transgressors; to whom the