N01015:94
A faithful man, described and rewarded. Some observable & serviceable passages in the life…
A faithful man, described and rewarded. Some observable & serviceable passages in the life and death of Mr. Michael Wigglesworth. Late Pastor of Maldon [i.e., Malden]; who rested from his labours, on the Lords-Day, June 10th. 1705. In the seventy fourth year of his age. : And memorials of piety, left behind him among his written experiences. : With a funeral-sermon preached (for him) at Maldon; June 24. 1705. / By Cotton Mather. ; [Two lines of quotation in Latin]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Benj. Eliot, 1705
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.
IV. Some comfort God gave me in Himself; finding my Love to Man, not Rewarded with like Love again. He helped me to Rejoice in the Testimony of a Good Conscience, and Looking unto Him, not unto Man, for the Reward of my Labours.
IV. Some comfort God gave me in Himself; finding my Love to Man, not Rewarded with like Love again. He helped me to Rejoyce in the Testimony of a Good Conscience, and Looking unto Him, not unto Man, for the Reward of my Labours.
V. I thought, if God would not Save me at Last, yet there was something that pleased me in this; That my Lord should still have Glory. Hereupon I Reflected, Saying, And whence hast thou any such Endearedness of Affection to the Glory of Christ? Canst thou Desire His Glory, without some Love to Him? Canst thou Love Him, Except He Loved thee first? Then has God indeed ⟨p. 30⟩Loved thee with an Everlasting Love. This some what Revived me.
VI. It pleased God in some measure to scatter my Doubts, when I considered; How clearly did God once and again draw me to His Son, for all Good, when I could find none in my self? Then making with me a Covenant, Ordered in all things & sure. This remains, tho' I can't find such sensible Qualifications in my self; which I desire, bitterly to bewail it before God that I can't. Yet, whilst I Live, I will not Let Him Go. Moreover, I appeal to God Himself, the Searcher of Hearts, to see whether there be, or have been, no prizing of God above other things. What else means, my Restlessness after Sin committed, until I have made my Peace with God? Or, if that be from Fear of Punishment, rather than Love, to thy self, Lord, yet what means that Substantial Soul-Contentment I have found in thy self, when Creatures have failed; and which I never found any where but in thy self ? What is it but that gives me Support, when Creatures frown? When I cannot Receive what I desire from thee? Is it not, that I have all in thee? and that thou art mine, who art better than all? Away, Thou Unbelief! Away, ye Soul-sinking Discouragements!