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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 Introduction
IT is the Description, which Martinius in that Noble and Learned piece of Geography, which he calls Atlas Chinensis, gives concerning the Air in that part of the Eastern World, Majus in hac Provincia Frigus est, quam illius poscat Polt Altitudo: Says he, The Cold in China, is greater than the Elevation of the Pole there would seem to allow: for the Country lies in little more than Forty Degrees of Latitude, and yet for four Months together in the Year, the Rivers there are so Frozen, that the Ice will bear the passage not only of Men, but of Horses and Coaches too, upon it. Yea, and the Ships are so shut up in their Harbours, that unto the beginning of March, there is hardly any stirring out; and there is more Froze in one day than there can be Thawed in many. I almost Thought that I read the Description of our Winters in this part of our Western World, in those words of the Geographer: for tho' the Latitude of the principal Town in this Province be but Forty Two Degrees, Twenty Seven Minutes, yet our Cold is by many Degrees more Fierce and Hard, however more clear, pleasant and wholesome than ⟨image ?⟩that of many places that •y beyond Fifty: and when it shall be told unto Strangers, that we have had Frosts both in June and in August, they will also conclude, That our Winters must needs be as Long, as they are Cold. Now, the pinches of such a New-English B••nter, Awakened me to Consider, How so Cold and so […] a Time of Diversion from very much of our other Business, might be best Employed for the Glory of that God, who Made both the Summer and the Winter? As, 'Twas the manner of an Ingenious Person, when in the Morning there was a prospect of a Fair Day, to say, 'Tis pity such a Fair Day should be Lost: so, The most of our Winter Days are Fair ones: not such Dirty, Slappy, Louring Things, as fill the Winters, in some other Lands; and methoughts, 'Twas pity any of them should be Lost, as too many of them are. I am sufficiently dissatisfied at the ordinary Definition, which the Schools have given of the Cold, A Quality that Congregates Things both a like, and an unlike Nature. Yet I have been far more dissatisfied, at the too usual way of spending our Days, when the Cold almost confines us from our Christian Congregations. But, what seemed the best way of Redeeming these Days?