N01310:46
Thoughts for the day of rain. In two essay's
Thoughts for the day of rain. In two essay's: I. The Gospel of the rainbow. In the meditations of piety, on the appearance of the bright clouds, with the bow of God upon them. II. The Saviour with his rainbow. And the covenant which God will remember to his people in the cloudy times that are passing over them. / By Cotton Mather., D.D. ; [Seven lines of quotations]
printed by B. Green, 1712
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.
We are surrounded with the Preachers of Truth unto us; All the Elements are full of them: In all Creatures we have the Faithful Preachers; if we have but Ears to hear them. To put the Creatures unto such an Use, as that of being Led by them unto Good Thoughts, and unto the due Acknowledgements of Their and Our Maker and Saviour; 'tis, to do something towards the Restitution of all Things, unto the Primitive and Paradisian State; yea, O Sons of God, it is a little to bring on the State, for which the whole Creation groaneth! Of our Duties, and of His Praises to whom we owe our Duties, I will say, Great is the Army that Publisheth them! And the Kingdom of METEORS has raised for us a particular Army of Monitors; among which there is none that makes a more Illustrious Figure, than One which I am going to rescue from the Neglect, with which it has been too much disregarded & overlooked in a World, which owes more pious Regards unto it.
We are surrounded with the Preachers of Truth unto us; All the Elements are full of them: In all Creatures we have the Faithful Preachers; if we have but Ears to hear them. To put the Creatures unto such an Use, as that of being Led by them unto Good Thoughts, and unto the due Acknowledgments of Their and Our Maker and Saviour; 'tis, to do something towards the Restitution of all Things, unto the Primitive and Paradisian State; yea, O Sons of God, it is a little to bring on the State, for which the whole Creation groaneth! Of our Duties, and of His Praises to whom we owe our Duties, I will say, Great is the Army that Publisheth them! And the Kingdom of METEORS has raised for us a particular Army of Monitors; among which there is none that makes a more Illustrious Figure, than One which I am going to rescue from the Neglect, with which it has been too much disregarded & overlooked in a World, which owes more pious Regards unto it.
It is the Rainbow. Of this you Expect ⟨p. 3⟩not from me, any Attempts at Philology. To tell you, that the Hebrew Name for it is, Ketcheth; The Greek [Greek or Hebrew], as well as the Latin, Iris; the French, L'arc du Ciel; (or, the Bow of Heaven;) and in like manner, the Italian L'arco del Cielo; and the Spanish, Ell arco del Cielo; (as also, El arco de las nueves, or, The Bow of the Clouds:) and the German (more akin to ours) Ein Regenbogen; This would perhaps as little Edify you, as to tell you, that our Indians call it by some such Name, as Ukqumogquoanuh. I shall as little attempt the Philosophy of it; For, after I have given you the common Definition of it, Arcus Coelestis, qui fit ex Solis Luce, in Nubem varie compositam et temperatam, sed ex Diametro Soli ipsi incurrente ac incident, pluvioso tempore; and should add more than as many more, as there be Colours in the Rainbow; and with the Modern Corrections of ancient Errors, proceed unto the Differences between the Solar Iris, and the Lunar: and between the Iris and the Halo; so little progress have we yet made in real and certain Knowledge, that I should Leave you after all, with the Subject of my Discourse, but in the Clouds.