N01426:34
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.
Secondly. God the Sow will Comfort His People. If a bright Angel were now to Preach among you; he would now thus call upon you; Behold, I bring you good Tidings of great Joy; To you there is born a Saviour. And he would not stick to add, Never, never any Comfort came up to this! The Jewish Rabbi's agreed upon it, That the Name of the Messiah should be Menachem, or, The Comforter; Because 'tis He that is thus called, Lam. I.16. The Comforter that should relieve my Soul. ⟨p. 23⟩We read of such a Thing as this to be forever taken for granted; Consolation in Christ. Oh! what a Comforter we have in such a Saviour! The Consolations of a Redeemer, who is of God made Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Holiness, and Redemption unto us! No Mothers can do such things for us; nor can it enter into their Hearts to conceive all that is in those things. Truly, Sinners that have the Wrath of God abiding on them, and that are serving diverse Lusts, and that are held by Satan in the Chains of Death, and are in the way that leads down to a Devouring Fire, and Everlasting Burnings; These cannot but be comforted, when they hear a Blessed JESUS calling to them, Look unto me, and be ye saved! And saying, Him that comes unto me, I will in no wise cast out! My Friends, won't it Comfort you, to have a Saviour, who has offered up a Sacrifice to God for you, and supplied you with a Righteousness wherein God will accept of you? A Saviour, who fits on the Glorious high Throne, with the Government of the whole World in His ⟨p. 24⟩Hands, and is resolved that in the Administration of His Providence, all the Things that befall you, shall work together for your Good. What shall I say? A Saviour, who is your Brother and a Man lying in the Bosom of God, and infinitely dearer to God, than all the Works of His Hands? What Consolations are these? O my Soul, Why art not thou even Overwhelmed in these Consolations!
Secondly. God the Sow will Comfort His People. If a bright Angel were now to Preach among you; he would now thus call upon you; Behold, I bring you good Tidings of great Joy; To you there is born a Saviour. And he would not stick to add, Never, never any Comfort came up to this! The Jewish Rabbi's agreed upon it, That the Name of the Messiah should be Menachem, or, The Comforter; Because 'tis He that is thus called,