N00528:201
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 FIFTH Article in our Commemoration may be, The Benefits of God, relating to the FRIENDS, by the Bestow […] whereof, God Almighty has befriended us. When men have been annoyed by Adversaries, it has been said, God, Raised them no those Adversaries. And shall not we that have such Friends as we have, Acknowledge that they are of Gods Raising for us? But there are especially our Friends of two Ranks, wherein we have been ⟨p. 55⟩marvellously favoured by the God who Sets the Solitary in Families. First, Our Consorts. Have we not had such WIVES, as may be truly called Good things, wherein we have obtained Favour from the Lord? 'Tis possible, we did in the Solemnest manner, like Isaac, Ask, them of God, before we had them; and now tho' t'other Day, they were meet strangers unto us, we do, as we have cause, value them above all the Relations that we have in the world besides; and we do every Day that we live in the world, give our particular thanks to Heaven for our being so happily Accommodated. We have Consorts, whose Good nature, whose Discretion, Doubles all our joys, and Halves all our Sorrows: Consorts, who Live with us as the Heirs of Life, and give us a fit help, in out pursuing of that Inheritance; Consorts, who are not a continual Dropping to us, as Jobs was to him, or as Abigails was to her. We had been the Undonest of men, if we had been so mated, as we have seen some, who have been thus undone, and could not undo what had in this thing been once done. And then Our Children. It is said, Lo, Children are an Heritage of the Lord. And how, Rich, have some of us, been in our Heritage! Children we have had, that have been comely, that have been witty, that have been Well Disposed. We have had Children, and God has not fulfilled His threatening upon us, Tho' they bring up Children, yet will I bereave them. Ibzan the Judge of Israel, had thirty Sons, and thirty Daughters; and the Jews have a Tradition that he Buried them all, before he Died ⟨p. 56⟩himself: We have not been so Bereaved. We have had Children, and they have not been like Esau's, A Grief of Mind unto us, but our Support, and our Glory. We may produce them, as the Roman Lady did Hers, for the most valuable of all our Jewels. To add,
The FIFTH Article in our Commemoration may be, The Benefits of God, relating to the FRIENDS, by the Bestow 〈…〉 whereof, God Almighty has befriended us. When men have been annoy'd by Adversaries, it has been said, God, Raised them no those Adversaries. And shall not we that have such Friends as we have, Acknowledge that they are of Gods Raising for us? But there are especially our Friends of two Ranks, wherein we have been