N01424:15
Insanabilia. An essay upon incurables; handling that case, What shall people do under their…
Insanabilia. An essay upon incurables; handling that case, What shall people do under their griefs, when there is no curing of them? And aimed at the comfort and counsel of the many, who encounter those grievous things, for which there is no remedy but patience. : [One line epigram in Latin]Insanabilia. An essay upon incurables; handling that case, What shall people do under their griefs, when there is no curing of them? And aimed at the comfort and counsil of the many, who encounter those grievous things, for which there is no remedy but patience. : [One line epigram in Latin]
Boston: printed by T. Fleet for Samuel Gerrish, 1714
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.
I. And it will contribute a little unto it, for us to lay down in the first Place, this more general Observation. Griefs must come; There are Grievous Things, which in this World must be met withal. They are in the very Nature of the Climate. It is the Condition of Mankind; the common Lot, the constant Fate, which every Mothers Son must look for: A Condition of Affliction, which is not Joyous but Grievous. We Read, Job XIV. 1. Man that is born of a Woman, is of short Life, and full of Trouble.
We will a little Enquire after the Cause of the Grievous Things that are appointed for us. For, Is there not a Cause? My Brethren, 'Tis not a mere Chance that brings our Griefs. Let us leave it unto the Philistines to say, It is a Chance that happens unto us. To ascribe our Grievous Things unto a Blind Fortune; ⟨p. 8⟩to make no more of it than this, It was my hard Fortune; 'tis a very Foolish and Faulty Blindness. There is no Sense, and as little Grace, in the Expression, tho' it be a very frequent one. I remember, the Holy one threatens His People; Lev. XXVI. 24. If ye walk contrary unto me. The Original Word signifies, not, Contrariety, but, Contingency. The Learned Jews Explain it with such a Reading, If ye walk in the way of Chance. And who do so? They most Emphatically, who don't look above Chance in the Events which in their Walk they meet withal. They who don't see and own the Providence of God in all Events. Of such People it is threatened by God. That He will Walk in the way of Chance with them, and will regard their Prayers no more than if there were nothing but a Chance to Govern their Affairs. But,
We will a little Enquire after the Cause of the Grievous Things that are appointed for us. For, Is there not a Cause? My Brethren, 'Tis not a meer Chance that brings our Griefs. Let us leave it unto the Philistines to say, It is a Chance that happens unto us. To ascribe our Grievous Things unto a Blind Fortune;