N00683:94
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.
And that Praises, as well as Pr••ers might not be forgotten with him, I find him once particularly in his Diary, thus Expressing himself.
December 15. 1691.
I Resolved, through the Grace and Strength of Jesus Christ, even in the midst of all my Sorrows and Sinkings, despairings and distractions, to keep as much of this Day, as I could, in THANKSGIVING; which I did; but could not go through with It▪ through bodily Faintness. I spent Five Hours somewhat Comfortably; but after that I flagged. I Resolved to do Three Things. First, To spend some Time in Praising God for His Excellencies. God was with me, I hope, in that part of it, and I spent my self so much therein, that I was Disabled for the Rest. To help it forward God brought to hand Mr. Burroughs, of the Nature of God; I bl•s God for it. After that, I went to Praye• Labouring to Exalt God; (It was a Good Time!) After that I Sang the 148th. Psalm▪ Secondly, After that, I set my self to bless God, for His Benefits and ⟨p. 48⟩Kindnesses to me. But being Spent, I did not much; only going to Prayer, I made mention of some Mercies; such as these; viz. for Christ; His Covenant of Grace; and the Promises of it, (some of which, were particularly mentioned and pressed:) also my Education; my manifold preservations by Land & Sea; (especially that in Ipswich Bay:) and manifold tedious Sicknesses ••ce; For the long Day of Gods Patience, notwithstanding many Sins: For my Comfortable Provisions all along; For preserving His Great Name, that I have in nothing openly Dishonoured it; For my Success and Acceptance in my work; For my dear Wife, that I had her so long; and that my Brother, and my dear Wife, dyed both of them Glorifying of God: They are in Heaven, and I am out of Hell! That I have hitherto been kept from Distraction, and Despair, and kept to my Work: Tha I have any Friends (in this strange Land,) and any in my Family to mind me, and tend me: That I have Work here, and Opportunities of Service: For my sore Crosses and Losses of Late, Afflictions and Temptations, hoping they may work for Good Tdly, To Conclude all, with a cheerful Accepting of Christ, and Devoting my self to His Service: To Do for Him, that had done all this for me: Saying, If God would help me to Study, He should have all the Glory of it.