N00941:90
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.
Quest. IV. Are we in all our Trials very studious to learn, to mind, to mend, whatever may be the procuring cause of our Trials? Probably, when afflictions come, there is a Controversy which the God, who afflicts us, is therein managing with us. God may say to us, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? Well then, In Afflictions are we duly inquisitive after the Cause of all? When a Child was taken away from an Excellent person, she said, O man of God, sin is now brought unto Remembrance! Accordingly when any Affliction comes on us, do we set our selves to ⟨p. 50⟩consider what Sin we can Remember as the Cause of this? Do we resolve in our Afflictions, Lam. 3 40. Let us search and try our ways, and turn unto the Lord? In Afflictions do we go to God, Job 10. 22. Oh show me wherefore thou contendest with me? And, Job 34. 21. I have born Chastisement, I will not offend any more! Do our Afflictions cause us to set before our selves all the Commandments of God, and out of these Commandments do we search and judge, and loath our selves, according to the Cause which we may there find for our Afflictions! Are we Impartial in our finding wherein we are guilty, and then studious in our purposes, to Repent & Reform? 'Tis said of some, Their Scum remains: When God sets us over that Fire of Affliction, does our Scum come away or does it remain in us! Are we like the Fool in the mortar? Or are we more careful to make our Peace with God? to quicken our pace in the Race set before us? to grow more diligent in working out our own Salvation? now I know that thou fearest God.
Quest. IV. Are we in all our Tryals very studious to learn, to mind, to mend, whatever may be the procuring cause of our Tryals? Probably, when afflictions come, there is a Controversy which the God, who afflicts us, is therein managing with us. God may say to us, What have I now done? Is there not a cause? Well then, In Afflictions are we duly inquisitive after the Cause of all? When a Child was taken away from an Excellent person, she said, O man of God, sin is now brought unto Remembrance! Accordingly when any Affliction comes on us, do we set our selves to ⟨p. 50⟩