N00683:95
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.
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.