N00683:126
A good man making a good end. The life and death, of the Reverend…
A good man making a good end. The life and death, of the Reverend Mr. John Baily [i.e., Bailey], comprised and expressed in a sermon, on the day of his funeral. Thursday. 16.d. 10.m. 1697. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Two line epigram in Latin]
printed by B. Green for Michael Perry, 1698
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.
What I say upon it, is; Imitate him, in a point so Imitable. This Preacher is well worthy to be Imitated, as he was an Hearer.
You can all testify, that he was none of those Cold Preachers, whereof one Complains, Verba vitae in quorundam Doctorum Labijs, quantum ad Virtutem, et Efficaciam Moriuntur: Adeo enim tepide, adeo remisse, verba Dei annunciant, ut Extinct• in Labijs Eorum penitus videantur; unde Sicut ipsi Frigidi sunt, et Extincti, sic Frigidos et Extinctos relinquunt, et utinam non facerent, Auditores.
For his Preaching, he particularly prescribed unto himself, according to a Memorandum, which I found thus Entered in his Diary.
For his Preaching, he particularly prescribed unto himself, according to a Memorandum, which I found thus Entred in his Diary.
Old Mr. Thomas Shepard, when on his Deathbed, said unto the young Ministers about him, That their work was great, and called for great seriousness. For his own part, he told them Three Things. First, That the Studying of every Sermon, cost him Tears; he wept in the Studying of every Sermon. Secondly, Before he Preached any Sermon, he Got Good by it himself. Thirdly, He always went up into the Pulpit, as if he were to give up his Accounts unto his Master. Oh! that my Soul (adds our Baily) may Remember and Practise accordingly!