N01367:26
Nepenthes evangelicum. A brief essay, upon a soul at ease; in what piety will…
Nepenthes evangelicum. A brief essay, upon a soul at ease; in what piety will bring both parents and children to. : A sermon occasioned by the death of a religious matron, Mrs. Mary Rock. Who having entered the eighty first year of her age, withdrew from us. 30d. 7m. 1713. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. ; [One line from Matthew]Nepenthes evangelicum. A brief essay, upon a soul at ease; in what piety will bring both parents and children to. : A sermon occasion'd by the death of a religious matron, Mrs. Mary Rock. Who having entred the eighty first year of her age, withdrew from us. 30d. 7m. 1713. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. ; [One line from Matthew]
Boston: printed by Thomas Fleet for Daniel Henchman, 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.
V. Piety puts the Soul upon that Course, which Usually, yea, Naturally brings Ease to the Soul. The Fear of God ⟨p. 17⟩will always produce and excite Prayer to God. Every one that is Godly will Pray. Now Prayer is the truest Hearts-Ease. When the Soul is not well at Ease, the kind Invitation of Heaven unto us, is that; Psal. LV. 22. Cast thy Burden on the Lord. Piety will do this thing; and this throws off the Burden; This Eases the Soul. Whatever Distress be upon the Soul, Piety will say, Well, I will go tell my Father of it! If the Soul be in any Grief, Piety will Vent the Grief, in a Prayer to the Father of Mercies; A Prayer to the God who does not willingly Afflict or Grieve the Children of Men. The Resolution of Piety is, To be careful for nothing, but in every thing to present a Request unto the Lord: Then follows, Phil. IV. 7. The Peace of God shall Garrison your Heart and Minds through' Christ Jesus; at such a rate, that the Enemies of your Tranquility shall not be able to break in upon you. Indeed, the Heart knows its own Bitterness; and we often know the Plague of our own Heart; A Grief that is known to none but our own Heart; none but we our selves are privy to it. But now, Piety will put this Grief into a ⟨p. 18⟩Prayer, and so carry it unto the Lord. A Grief carried thither, is eased by being so. Either the Ground of the Grief is removed, or else the Sense of […] the Grief is assuaged; when it is by Prayer spread before the Lord. We Read of one who was of a sorrowful Spirit, 1. Sam. I. 18. She could say, I have poured out my Soul unto the Lord; And anon, Her Countenance was no more Sad. Oh! No such Anodyne, for an unquiet Soul! A Praying Posture is an Easy Posture for the Soul. To fall down on the Knees, this eases the Soul. It was urged, Psal. LXXXVI. 4. Rejoice the Soul of thy Servant; for unto thee, O Lord, I do lift up my Soul. Verily, To lift up the Soul unto the Lord, this Comforts the Soul, Gladdens the Soul, Eases the Soul: A Praying Soul takes the way to be an Easy Soul. There is no Case but Prayer will suit it: It is the Universal Medicine.