N00683:69
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.
But it was particularly Expressed, when one of his Children was to be Baptised. He thus wrote upon it. I spent some Time, in Offering up my self, and my Child unto the Lord, and in taking hold of the Covenant for my self and him. It is Actually to be done to morrow, [in Baptism.] I prayed hard this day, all this day, that I might be able in much Faith, and Love, and New-Covenant-Obedience, to do it to morrow. It is not Easy, tho' Common, to offer a Child unto God in Baptism. Oh! that's a sweet word, I will be a God to Thee, and thy Seed after thee. No marvel Abraham fell on his Face at the hearing of it!
Hence, when he parted with the greatest Enjoyment he had in this World, he thus wrote upon it, in his Diary;
If I can but Exchange Outward Comforts for Inward Graces, 'tis well enough: Oh! for an Heart to Glorify God in the Fire!
From this Holiness, proceeded that Watchfulness, which Discovered a singular Fear of God, in his whole Conversation. I find him Entering in his Diary, such passages as these.
From this Holiness, proceeded that Watchfulness, which Discovered a singular Fear of God, in his whole Conversation. I find him Entring in his Diary, such passages as these.