N02152:27
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.
BUT thus we are to manage the First Part of our Work. This is to be our Expectation; That we have nothing here, but what may soon be cut off. We proceed unto the Second Part of the Work. And certainly, Every one will readily grant it.
II 'TIS Reasonable for us to make a Religious Preparation for Troublesome Changes! To Fear Changes only with a Design to get into a fit posture for them. See, Psal. LV. 19. We will Explain this Frame of Christianity.
1. OUR Fear of Changes, must not be a Torturing Fear, that shall Kill or Spoil our Blessings. We read of a Miserable Thing; Eccl. VI. 2. A Man has not power to taste his own Enjoyments. Very ⟨p. 11⟩dreadful is the Wrath & Curse of GOD, upon the Children of Men, when they are given up to such a Fear, as deprives them of all Relish in the Blessings, which He bestows upon them. When the Fear of Losing our Blessings, takes away our Sense of the Blessings, the Lord then fulfils that fearful Threatening upon us; I will curse your Blessings. Our Fear of our Changes, it should not hinder our Joy in our Blessings; What can there be better for a Man, than that he should eat & drink, and make his Soul enjoy good in his labour? It would be a froward & foolish Ingratitude unto GOD, for us to threw away our Blessings, before GOD shall please to take them away. To Live in Bondage, through' Fear, of what is coming upon us.
1. OUR Fear of Changes, must not be a Torturing Fear, that shall Kill or Spoil our Blessings. We read of a Miserable Thing;