It is a little Observable That though Homer, by first Introducing the Gods as having the same Vicious Characters, and Actions with miserable Mortals, Proved one of the Greatest Apostles the Devil ever had in the World; yet the Testimonies born to many Points of Morality in his Famous and Wondrous Epic Poem, are numberless. But there is nothing more worthy of Observation in the Iliad, than This; That he will Recommend Prayer to Heaven as a most necessary Preface unto all Important Enterprises: and he never Speaks of any Prayer, but he brings ⟨p. 146⟩in a Gracious Answer to it. I have seen the Quill of an High-flyer Scoffing at Homer for this▪ as making his Hero's to be of the same Religion with the Dissenters in our Nation. And yet, what has Homer done, but Justified the Wisdom in the Maxims of our Holy REDEEMER, with a Confession from that Natural Conscience, which such Scoffers of the Last Days have Silenced? Let them Scoff on, if they Please; while I go on to relate, That I find Mr Mather still in his Good old way, of Setting apart whole Days for Secret Supplications to the Glorious GOD; Especially, when Critical Hours for our Affairs were coming on. In these Days, I find him sometimes, under those Afflations from Heaven, which assured him, That be should Return to New England, with Good Tidings for the People there. When he saw his Designs Crossed, and his Labours Lost, in his pursuit of the Old Charter, it greatly Perplexed him to see what looked unto him, as if his Prayer and Faith were Baffled. But GOD was Graciously doing better than he Imagined, for him, and for his People, whom the Old Charter, (as it was) would not have near so well Accommodated (as things go) as what is now Obtained for them. Nor was he without his whole Days for Secret Thanksgivings, when GOD had Remarkably smiled upon him. And he would sometimes (after a well-known Pattern in the Bible,) prevail with his Friends to meet, and Fast and Pray, when he was to go in unto the King: Or when our Affairs had any dark Obstructions upon them. Yea, such was the Sanctity and Purity of his ⟨p. 147⟩Good Conversation in CHRIST, that wherever he Lodged, the Families felt Piety Practically and Powerfully Commended unto them Among other Instances of this; The Young Gentlewoman that waited on him, at Mr.
It is a little Observable That though Homer, by first Introducing the Gods as having the same Vicious Characters, and Actions with miserable Mortals, Proved one of the Greatest Apostles the Devil ever had in the World; yet the Testimonies born to many Points of Morality in his Famous and Wondrous Epic Poem, are numberless. But there is nothing more worthy of Observation in the Iliad, than This; That he will Recommend Prayer to Heaven as a most necessary Preface unto all Important Enterprizes: and he never Speaks of any Prayer, but he brings ⟨p. 146⟩in a Gracious Answer to it. I have seen the Quill of an High-flyer Scoffing at Homer for this▪ as making his Hero's to be of the same Religion with the Dissenters in our Nation. And yet, what has Homer done, but Justified the Wisdom in the Maxims of our Holy REDEEMER, with a Confession from that Natural Conscience, which such Scoffers of the Last Days have Silenced? Let them Scoff on, if they Please; while I go on to relate, That I find Mr Mather still in his Good old way, of Setting apart whole Days for Secret Supplications to the Glorious GOD; Especially, when Critical Hours for our Affairs were coming on. In these Days, I find him sometimes, under those Afflations from Heaven, which assured him, That be should Return to New England, with Good Tidings for the People there. When he saw his Designs Crost, and his Labours Lost, in his pursuit of the Old Charter, it greatly Perplexed him to see what look'd unto him, as if his Prayer and Faith were Baffled. But GOD was Graciously doing better than he Imagined, for him, and for his People, whom the Old Charter, (as it was) would not have near so well Accommodated (as things go) as what is now Obtained for them. Nor was he without his whole Days for Secret Thanksgivings, when GOD had Remarkably smiled upon him. And he would sometimes (after a well-known Pattern in the Bible,) prevail with his Friends to meet, and Fast and Pray, when he was to go in unto the King: Or when our Affairs had any dark Obstructions upon them. Yea, such was the Sanctity and Purity of his ⟨p. 147⟩Good Conversation in CHRIST, that wherever he Lodged, the Families felt Piety Practically and Powerfully Commended unto them Among other Instances of this; The Young Gentlewoman that waited on him, at Mr.
