N00941:70
Meat out of the eater. Or, Funeral-discourses occasioned by the death of several relatives.…
Meat out of the eater. Or, Funeral-discourses occasioned by the death of several relatives. Work accommodated unto the service of all that are in any affliction; but very particularly such as are afflicted with the loss of their consorts or children. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Four lines from I Corinthians]
Boston: printed by B. Green & J. Allen for Benjamin Eliot, 1703
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.
2. We have the Good mans Commendation. And that was from the mouth of an Angel of God, attending of the Shechinah. The very Angels of God, they take notice how we do acquit our selves under any of our Trials. It is no matter whether our Neighbours do see our virtuous Carriage or no; Gods Angels, they see it. When it is what it should be, they prize it, they praise it, they give Honour to God for it; and it is an unspeakable satisfaction to those illustrious Nobles of Heaven But what is the Commendation? It is this; now I know thou fearest God. The Angel brings to Abraham, an assurance of ⟨p. 36⟩Gods approbation of him, and of his Acceptation with God. And this is another thing to be remarked, That God uses to recompense exemplary Patience, with comfortable Assurance. When we Bury our Children, let us patiently bear those Bereavements, and God will give us this assurance, Thou hast my Son, which is better than Ten Sons: I have given thee a Name better than of Sons and Daughters: Thou shalt go to them, not they return to thee? Let us be patient under Slanders, & God will give us that assurance. Thou hast a Name written in the Book of Life! Let us be patient under Losses, and God will give us that assurance, Thou hast in Heaven a better and a lasting Substance! Such assurance is given to a […] and resigning Abraham. The Spirit of God does by the Spirits of God oftentimes or perhaps immediately by himself, take such a time to witness it to the Souls of […] People, That God hath Loved them with an Everlasting Love, and they shall be gathered to him with Ever lasting Loving kindness. Let men have their hearts mightily set upon the Glorifying of God under their Afflictions, which nothing but the Fear of God will dispose ⟨p. 37⟩a man to do, and that glorious Advice will soon come from haven unto them: Now I know thou Fearest God! When it is said, Now I know thou Fearest God; the meaning is, Now thou mayst know it thyself, and thou hast made it known to all that will observe it. And there is an Emphasis in this, Now: Abraham had chose and shown the Fear of God before; ay, but when he came to part with a Child that was very dear to him, with such a Resignation, as nothing but the Grace of God could inspire a man withal, Now I know it, says the Lord. It is said, Psal. 25. 12, 13. What man is he that fears the Lord!