N01426:21
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 Disposition which the Glorious God has to provide for the Comfort of His People, has Two Resemblances, in His Two Testaments; And in both of them, 'tis Resembled unto the Provision which Female-Parents make for their Young ones. Agreeably to the more Sublime and Lofty Dispensation, wherewith our Lord appeared for the delivering of His People, in the Old Testament, we read; Deut. XXXII.11. As an Eagle fluttereth over her Young, hearing them on her Wings, so the Lord. Agreeably to the more Humble and Obscure Dispensation, wherewith our Lord made His Appearance to deliver His People in the New Testament, we read; Matth. XXIII.37. How often would I have gathered your Children together, even as an Hen gathereth her Chickens under her Wings. There is a Vehemence in the ΣΤΟΡΓΗ, and Passion of these Animals, to have their Young ones Defended, Befriended, Comforted. But that the Disposition in our God for the Comfort of His People, may have a yet more lively Emblem given of ⟨p. 9⟩it, Behold, an Emblem found for it in the Rational World. As it is with a Man whom his Mother Comforteth! Our God is more disposed for to Comfort us, and has better Comforts for us, than the most Affectionate Mother in the World!
I. The first Thing I am to observe, is this. There are considerable Consolations enjoyed by those whom their MOTHER Comforteth. 'Tis a Consolation to have a Mother Living. He is a barbarous Wretch, and worthy to have his Eyes pulled out in the Valley of Careases, who does not count it so. Tho' it should be a Decayed Mother, a Decrepit Mother, one under all the Inconveniences of a Superannuation, and one that must be entirely supported by her Children, yet the Presence of their Mother with them, is grateful to them if there be not a Barbarity of Ingratitude in the Children. The Jews have a Proverb among them, That a Mine of Gold in an House were not so rich a Blessing, as the presence of such a Mother there. But then, there are numberless Consolations which good