N00528:195
Winter-meditations directions how to employ the leisure [sic] of the winter for the glory…Winter-meditations directions how to employ the liesure [sic] of the winter for the glory…
Winter-meditations directions how to employ the leisure [sic] of the winter for the glory of God. : Accompanied with reflections, as well historical, as theological, not only upon the circumstances of the winter, but also, upon the notable works of God, both in, creation, and providence: especially those, which more immediately concern every particular man, in the whole course of his life: and upon the religious works, wherewith every man should acknowledge God, in and from the accidents of the winter. / By Cotton Mather. ; With a preface of the Reverend, Mr. John Higginson.Winter-meditations directions how to employ the liesure [sic] of the winter for the glory of God. : Accompanied with reflections, as well historical, as theological, not only upon the circumstances of the winter, but also, upon the notable works of God, both in, creation, and providence: especially those, which more immediately concern every particular man, in the whole course of his life: and upon the religious works, wherewith every man should acknowledge God, in and from the accidents of the winter. / By Cotton Mather. ; With a preface of the Reverend, Mr. John Higginson.
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris over-against the Old-Meeting-House, 1693
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.
The SECOND Article in our Commemoration may be, The Benefits of God, relating to the PLACE of our NATIVITY, or at least of our HABITATION. Where do we Dwell! 'Tis in •Land, Enriched with all sorts of Temporal Conveniences. 'Tis not where we must have Endured, The Want of all Things; not in the Dark Places of the Earth, which are filled with Cruelty. We Dwell, where we have a plenty of Meat, of Drink, of Apparel, and of the Best; and it is plain, that the Poor do not in any Country Live so well as they do in Ours. We Dwell where we have the Right of ENGLISH-MEN for our Birthrigh••: which is an Inheritance of ⟨p. 50⟩more consequence than what any other Nation upon Earth is favoured with: yea, and we have Additional Privileges, as we are NEW-ENGLANDERS, whereof we may say, as the Jewish Rabbi did of Liberty, If the Heavens were Parchment, and the Seas were Ink, all would be too Little to write the Praises due unto our God upon that account. We Dwell where Civility abounds; where Knowledge and Learning, with Schools and other means for it, are promoted; where Vice is by wholesome Laws restrained; where Humane Society is made Easy and Pleasant by the Orders of it; and where Industry is Encouraged. But this is not all; Mul•o Majora Canan•us. 'Tis in a Land, Exalted with all sorts of Spiritual Advantages; 'Tis not, where the People perish, because they have no Vision. I pray mark it, If the world at this Day be Divided into One and Thirty parts, about Nineteen of them are Heathen Idolaters; about Seven of them are Mahometans; hardly Five of them are so much as called Christians. And of what has been styled Christendom, how small a Moiety, is rescued either from that Superstition, or Persecution, which destroys all Real Christianity? Yea, but you and I have, The Lines fallen to us in such a pleasant Place! We Dwell in a Goshen, in a Protestant, and a Puritan Soil; and where a Power to persecute is by a Royal Charter, for ever kept from coming into the Hands of any that might hereafter incline to use it on us. And, in what Age? Had we been Born a few Ages ago, it must have been in a Pagan, or in a Popish Age; ⟨p. 51⟩and before PRINTING was Invented, when a Bible must have cost a man an incredible Sum of money, if he could have got it so; and perhaps Hanging or Burning into the Bargain.