N02152:14
Tela praevisa. A short essay, on troubles to be looked for. A wise expectation…Tela praevisa. A short essay, on troubles to be look'd for. A wise expectation…
Tela praevisa. A short essay, on troubles to be looked for. A wise expectation of, and preparation for, troublesome changes, recommended unto the strangers and pilgrims in this present evil world / by Cotton Mather D.D. and F.R.S. ; [One line from Matthew]Tela praevisa. A short essay, on troubles to be look'd for. A wise expectation of, and preparation for, troublesome changes, recommended unto the strangers and pilgrims in this present evil world / by Cotton Mather D.D. and F.R.S. ; [One line from Matthew]
printed by B. Green for Thomas Hancock, 1724
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.
IT will be our Wisdom, to be always Ready for sorrowful Changes: to be in such a Readiness for them, as may abate the Sorrows of the Changes. We may be at present in Prosperity; or at least we may have many Comfortable Possessions about us. Well, but we should have a Fear, that some Changes may be near unto us, a Devout Fear, that things will not continue long just as they are; an Holy […] which may produce in us a Temper, that shall entertain what befalls us, with all due composedness of Mind, & Resignation. We should be so Apprehensive of all sorts of Changes, that whatever befalls us, we may be able, with some Quietness of Soul to say; 'Tis no other than the Thing which I feared, that is come upon me; I am not surprised at it; It is no worse than what I have long been looking for.
IT will be our Wisdom, to be always Ready for sorrowful Changes: to be in such a Readiness for them, as may abate the Sorrows of the Changes. We may be at present in Prosperity; or at least we may have many Comfortable Possessions about us. Well, but we should have a Fear, that some Changes may be near unto us, a Devout Fear, that things will not continue long just as they are; an Holy 〈…〉 which may produce in us a Temper, that shall entertain what befalls us, with all due composedness of Mind, & Resignation. We should be so Apprehensive of all sorts of Changes, that whatever befalls us, we may be able, with some Quietness of Soul to say; 'Tis no other than the Thing which I fear'd, that is come upon me; I am not surprised at it; It is no worse than what I have long been looking for.
OUR Duty & Interest is disposed into Two Articles; ⟨p. 4⟩An Expectation of Changes, and a Preparation for Changes. But these, as our Duty & Interest themselves, are sweetly Incorporated. They are very near to each other; They always go together; They are one and the same: Tho' they may be distinctly considered.