N01360:28
The best way of living; which is to die daily: very briefly described and…
The best way of living; which is to die daily: very briefly described and commended in a plain discourse, made at a time, when the author had newly seen repeated strokes of death, on his own family. And the publisher had his family also struck with a sudden death upon a vital part of it. : 22. d. IX. m. 1713. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. ; [One line from 2 Corinthians]
Boston: printed by J. Allen, 1713
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.
VI. We are to Die Daily, by Daily meeting with Afflictions, and by Daily Bearing of them. To Die Daily, is the same that our Saviour speaks of, when He says; Luk. IX. 13. Let a man take up his Cross Daily. Our Afflictions belong to the Death, which is come upon us, by and for our Sin. We Die Daily, in those Afflictions, which are, as I may call them, The Van-Couriers of our Death; the Fore-runners ⟨p. 21⟩of our Death. A man who Dies Daily, is one who Daily Encounters with Afflictions; and may say with him, Ps. LXXIII 14. I am scourged all the Day long, & chastened every morning. In Dying Daily, we are Daily to look for Troubles: and have so much prudence, that when our Troubles come, we shall be able to say, These were not altogether unlooked for! Every Day we should arm our selves, for Unknown Troubles; as knowing that we daily Lie open to many and heavy Troubles: When the Light of the Day first salutes us, think; Who can tell the Troubles, which I may see, and into how much Darkness I may be brought, before this Day be done! We must get an Heart Established, Confirmed, Strengthened, against any Troubles, which we may be called unto an Encounter withal. So the Good man, Ps. CXII. 7, 8. He is not afraid of Evil Tidings; His Heart is established. And, when we Encounter with our Daily Troubles, it should be, how patiently, how quietly, with what a lovely Resignation! We Die Daily, in making Daily Sacrifices; in Daily submitting to the Death of those Comforts which we are most fond of, and which are the ⟨p. 22⟩Desire of our Eyes. Then does a man die indeed, when his Will is Dead. We Die Daily, when we Entertain our Daily Troubles, with a Will entirely swallowed up into the Will of God. We Die Daily, when our Daily Troubles find us willing to Drink whatever Cup our Father shall give us to drink of. We Die Daily, when we bear our Troubles, with a sweet Submission to our Saviour; believing that His Intention is entirely to make us partakers of that Holiness which we have besought Him to Enrich us withal; and to make us more meet for our Heavenly Inheritance. After this manner we are to Receive our Troubles; O my dear Saviour, I will submit with thy Help, unto whatever Cross thou shalt order for me.