N02152:20
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.
Thirdly. TO Expect Changes, is the way to Prevent Changes, that they shall not come, or to Sweeten Changes, when they come. It is often so, That the Expectation of Changes, proves our Deliverance from them. Tho' the World usually proves worse than we hope, yet it usually proves also Better than we fear. 'Tis true, Job could say, The Thing which I greatly feared, is come upon me. But then, he speaks of the case, as a Rare case; he wonders at it, that it should be so. 'Tis most frequently otherwise; The Changes which we most Expect, are those that we most frequently Escape. It may be, our Fear puts us on those Methods of Safety, that save us from our Feared Changes. ⟨p. 7⟩If we were upon the Stroke of Prognostication, would we most probably Prognosticate, what Changes a Man shall have befalling of him? I know not a more probable Rule of Conjecture than this; What is the Mans greatest Point of Security? The Thing that a Man does least of all Fear, 'tis greatly to be Feared, that this is the Thing that is to come upon him. We read, Psal. XXX. 6, 7. I said, I shall never be moved, — Thou hiddest thy Face, and I was troubled. What is the Thing that a Man has least apprehension to see Moved? It is very likely, That is the very Thing, which he shall see moved & changed, and be Troubled. Or, if Expectation will not keep off our Changes, but the Thing which we greatly fear must come upon us, yet it will moderate and mollify our Troubles, in our Changes. Tela Praevisa minus feriunt. By being Fore-warned of our Changes, we are Fore-armed for them. Our Spirits being afore-hand a little Familiarized unto our Changes, will be when they come, the less Affrighted at them. We less complain of those things, which we know, are to be looked for. The Wound is the less, when the Dart was Looked for. The Expectation of Changes will fortify us, with Patience to bear them the more easily & handsomely. The Messenger of Death put the famous Martyr into no Disturbance, for, said, he, This is no other than what I have been this long while Daily Looking for!
Thirdly. TO Expect Changes, is the way to Prevent Changes, that they shall not come, or to Sweeten Changes, when they come. It is often so, That the Expectation of Changes, proves our Deliverance from them. Tho' the World usually proves worse than we hope, yet it usually proves also Better than we fear. 'Tis true, Job could say, The Thing which I greatly feared, is come upon me. But then, he speaks of the case, as a Rare case; he wonders at it, that it should be so. 'Tis most frequently otherwise; The Changes which we most Expect, are those that we most frequently Escape. It may be, our Fear puts us on those Methods of Safety, that save us from our Feared Changes.