N01426:25
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.
Thirdly. Our Mothers unspeakably Comfort us when they are continually Praying for us. There are Mothers who can say to their Children, as in Gal. IV.19. My little Children, of whom I Travail in Birth again, until Christ be ⟨p. 14⟩formed in you. Mothers who are always Travailing for the Conversion and Salvation of their Children, with Supplications full of Agony on their behalf; As Monica for her Austin; Mothers that mention all their Children before the Lord, with suitable Petitions for them, in their daily Supplications; Mothers that if their Children are in any Distress, make their importunate Visits to Heaven for them, in their fervent Supplications: Truly, these are comfortable Mothers. Perhaps, they have been Mothers, that would, very often, very often, set apart whole Days for Prayer with Fasting before the Lord. We may be sure, they Remembered us on these Days; It may be, we were the main Articles of them. There are Mothers that lay up a stock of Prayers for their Children; This is to lay up a stock of Comforts for them. We read of one, Gen. XXIV.67. He was comforted after the Death of his Mother. When a Devout Mother has been for many Years Praying and Weeping to the Lord for the Blessings of Goodness to be multiplied upon their Children, ⟨p. 15⟩they may be comforted after the Death of such a Mother; Comforted in this Consideration; Tho' she be Dead, the Effects and Answers of the Prayers that she made before she dyed, may be Living and Lasting with us!
Thirdly. Our Mothers unspeakably Comfort us when they are continually Praying for us. There are Mothers who can say to their Children, as in Gal. IV.19. My little Children, of whom I Travail in Birth again, until Christ be ⟨p. 14⟩formed in you. Mothers who are always Travailing for the Conversion and Salvation of their Children, with Supplications full of Agony on their behalf; As Monica for her Austin; Mothers that mention all their Children before the Lord, with suitable Petitions for them, in their daily Supplications; Mothers that if their Children are in any Distress, make their importunate Visits to Heaven for them, in their fervent Supplications: Truly, these are comfortable Mothers. Perhaps, they have been Mothers, that would, very often, very often, set apart whole Days for Prayer with Fasting before the Lord. We may be sure, they Remembred us on these Days; It may be, we were the main Articles of them. There are Mothers that lay up a stock of Prayers for their Children; This is to lay up a stock of Comforts for them. We read of one,