N01426:17
Maternal consolations. An essay on, the consolations of God
Maternal consolations. An essay on, the consolations of God; whereof, a man whom his mother comforteth, receives a shadow; and all the children of God, enjoy the substance. Made on the death of Mrs. Maria Mather, the consort of the Reverend Dr. Increase Mather, and the daughter of the renowned Mr. John Cotton, who expired on, 4 d. 2 m. 1714. In the seventy third year of her age. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. & F.R.S. and a son of the deceased gentlewoman. ; [Three lines from II Corinthians]
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.
The Consolations which the People of God find in Him, are here compared, First, unto those which the Child has from the Mother, while in a state of Infancy: The Consolations of the Infant, Sucking at the Breast of Consolations, carried in the Arms, dandled on the Knees of the Mother. But in the Verse now before us, the Comparison for the Consolations goes on, to those which a Man receives from his Mother. I have the Original on my side, in so mending the Translation; As it is with a MAN whom his Mother Comforteth. One Reason for it may be, Because a Mother who sees a Son grown to be a Man, and prove a Worthy and an Useful and a Noted Man, and one that is to her, as they said unto Naomi, The Restorer of her Life, ⟨p. 6⟩and the Nourisher of her old Age; Her Affection to such a Son, will be very Passionate, very Rapturous, very Marvellous, nothing will be equal to the Transport of it. A Mother, when she has in her Sight, a Son that is a Valuable Man, and a Rich Harvest of all her painful and anxious Nursery, she places a violent Affection on him; such, that no Tongue is able to utter it! She thinks no Consolations too much for a Son, that affords her such Consolations. They who take Notice of such Things, tell of a Nation in Europe, above others Remarkable for this Quality in the Mothers there, Prae alijs Matribus mire Filios suos Grandevos amant. However, our God has a Kindness for us, which exceeds that of such a Mother. There is also this Reason for it; Our God is concerned for the Welfare of His People, not only in their more early Days, but also all their Days. When Israel was a Child, then I loved him, says the Lord; yea, and so He will in the Riper and Later Years of His People. Having loved thy own, Lord, Thou wilt Love them to ⟨p. 7⟩the End, and without End! Particular Saints find it so; The seventy first Psalm contains their Story, and is fulfilled unto them. I have thought of one Reason more for it. The Church will be arrived unto Mans Estate, and and unto Manly Christianity, when this Word shall be accomplished. When the Church is come, unto a perfect Man, unto the measure of the Stature of the fullness of Christ, then, then shall this have its full Accomplishment. I will add but this one Remark more; Every Believer on the Son of God, may claim an immediate Share in these Consolations.
The Consolations which the People of God find in Him, are here compared, First, unto those which the Child has from the Mother, while in a state of Infancy: The Consolations of the Infant, Sucking at the Breast of Consolations, carried in the Arms, dandled on the Knees of the Mother. But in the Verse now before us, the Comparison for the Consolations goes on, to those which a Man receives from his Mother. I have the Original on my side, in so mending the Translation; As it is with a MAN whom his Mother Comforteth. One Reason for it may be, Because a Mother who sees a Son grown to be a Man, and prove a Worthy and an Useful and a Noted Man, and one that is to her, as they said unto Naomi, The Restorer of her Life,