N00528:60
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.
But, How it Winter-Time to be Redeemed?
We will particularize.
1. In the Winter we have Leisure, to Reflect upon OUR OWN WORKS; and the God of Heaven does then Expect that we should so Reflect. There are some, who take my Text in that sense; He Seals up the Hand of every man, that every man may know his own work. We have Leisure in the Winter to settle our Temporal Affairs, and we may then see whereabout our Work Lies; what progress, what success, we have success, we have had in our Work; and what further steps we are to take about our works The Winter time should accordingly be a ⟨p. 14⟩Time of much Contrivance with us, and a Time to State our whole Business, for all the Year about. But more than so; our Spiritual and Eternal Affairs are those which the Winter gives us the best Leisure for; and we should now settle those by Reflecting upon our work. It was complained in Jer. 8. 6. No man Repented him, saying, what have I done? In the Winter we have Little to Do; well but now 'tis a Time, for us to Reflect, What have I been doing ever since I came into the World? The great work of Self-Examination is Gods Work; 'tis the Work whereto our God has called us. We have a Precept for it, in Hag. 1. 5. Thus saith the Lord of Hosts, consider your Ways. We have a Pattern for it, in Psal. 119. 59. I thought on my Ways, and I turned my Feet unto thy Testimonies. We do the Work of God, when we thus Try what our own Works have been. When the Winter then has driven us into Retirements, Let us take Time for this Work; even to See, and Know, what Work we have been doing since our God first set us to work among the Living on the Earth. 'Tis now a Time for us to Enquire, How have I answered the End, which I came into the World upon? God has Required us, to work out our own Salvation; well, but what strokes, have we struck at that work all this while? Ask our selves, How have I done the works Agreeable to Repentance? and, How have I done the works of Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ? And herewithal bring we all our works to such an Examination, as may discover