N01426:42
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.
II. What remains, is this Admonition of the Lord unto us; Despise not, Refuse not, the Consolations which an Heavenly Father has ready for you; Become the Children of God, and put in for a share in His Consolations. 'Tis an Expostulation, which we are every one of us to be addressed withal; Job XV.11. Are the Consolations of God small with thee? My Hearers, The Consolations ⟨p. 32⟩of God are small with you, if you count them too small to be worth all your Pains, and all your Cares, & an Head becoming a Fountain of Tears, distilled in your Prayers, from Fired and Flaming Hearts, to be made partakers of them. They are small with you, if you count them so small, that they will not sufficiently Sweeten, and more than Balance the worst of your Calamities. They are small with you, if all the Riches, and all the Delights under Heaven, do not appear to you small Things in comparison of them. And if you cast Contempt on the Comforts of God, what can you look for, but horrible Torments? The very Reflection on the Folly of the Contempt, will sting the Soul with a Thousand horrible Torments? Or, if you will not have GOD for your Comforter, whom, or what will you find any where to Comfort you? Forsake the Mercies, and the Comforts which you may have to be your own, (a Merciful GOD, who proffers to be your own God, and to Bless you!) and you will find your selves in the midst of none but ⟨p. 33⟩lying Vanities. Why, why will you so Deceive your selves?
II. What remains, is this Admonition of the Lord unto us; Despise not, Refuse not, the Consolations which an Heavenly Father has ready for you; Become the Children of God, and put in for a share in His Consolations. 'Tis an Expostulation, which we are every one of us to be address'd withal; Job XV.11. Are the Consolations of God small with thee? My Hearers, The Consolations ⟨p. 32⟩of God are small with you, if you count them too small to be worth all your Pains, and all your Cares, & an Head becoming a Fountain of Tears, distilled in your Prayers, from Fired and Flaming Hearts, to be made partakers of them. They are small with you, if you count them so small, that they will not sufficiently Sweeten, and more than Ballance the worst of your Calamities. They are small with you, if all the Riches, and all the Delights under Heaven, do not appear to you small Things in comparison of them. And if you cast Contempt on the Comforts of God, what can you look for, but horrible Torments? The very Reflection on the Folly of the Contempt, will sting the Soul with a Thousand horrible Torments? Or, if you will not have GOD for your Comforter, whom, or what will you find any where to Comfort you? Forsake the Mercies, and the Comforts which you may have to be your own, (a Merciful GOD, who profers to be your own God, and to Bless you!) and you will find your selves in the midst of none but