N00683:67
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.
We might begin, with Observing, That the Holy Word of God was very dear to him, as indeed it is to every Holy man. Hence, I find this passage in his Diary. Jan. 11. I finished the Reading of the Bible, in my Family (as formerly,) Oh! it's a Dear Book; it's always New. In the Beginning of every Chapter, it's good to say, Lord, open my Eyes, that I may see Wonders out of thy Law; And when we shut it up, to say, I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy Law is exceeding Broad. Oh! now terrible are the Threatenings; how precious are the Promises; how serious are the Precepts; how deep are the Prophecies of this Book! But we will pass on, to some further Observations.
We might begin, with Observing, That the Holy Word of God was very dear to him, as indeed it is to every Holy man. Hence, I find this passage in his Diary. Jan. 11. I finished the Reading of the Bible, in my Family (as formerly,) Oh! it's a Dear Book; it's alwayes New. In the Beginning of every Chapter, it's good to say, Lord, open my Eyes, that I may see Wonders out of thy Law; And when we shut it up, to say, I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy Law is exceeding Broad. Oh! now terrible are the Threatenings; how precious are the Promises; how serious are the Precepts; how deep are the Prophecies of this Book! But we will pass on, to some further Observations.
What is Holiness, but a Dedication to the Lord Jesus Christ? This Holy man was often breathing in himself, and pressing on others, that Great point, of Dedicating every thing to the Service of the Lord. Thus, in his Diary there frequently occur, such Strains as these. Oh! that I may Glorify God, with all I am, or have; even with all the faculties of my Soul, all the members of my Body, and in all the Places and Relations that I Stand in, as Man, Master, Minister, ⟨p. 42⟩Husband, Kinsman, & Neighbour. Oh! I stand in need both of a Justifying Christ, and a Sanctifying Christ. When shall I sensibly find a Christ, Swaying his Sceptre in my Soul! Thus, whatever House he came to Live in, it came under a Dedication; and once upon a Remove, he wrote this passage in his Diary. I could not but Leave my Old House, with a Prayer in every Room of it, for pardoning mercy.