Memoirs of the Maxwells of Pollok > Correspondence

1712.] FAMILY AND DOMESTIC LETTERS. 361
Dr. Cotton Mather, Boston, New England, to Sir John Maxwell,
Lord Pollok.
Boston, N. England, 12 d - 6 ra - 1712.
Nota [by Lord Pollok]. They begin the year the 25 March, and reckone
the moneths by number from that; so that the date is the 12th
September 1712.
3G2. Honourable Syr, it was not until very lately that I received the honour of your
letters, which you so many months ago intended me : an honour, whereof if 1
should not be very sensible, my ingratitude would be inexcusable. The inter-
course by letters which you have now allow'd me, I shall be ambitious to culti-
vate, as one of the more special mercies wherewith a gracious God has favoured
me, on the score both of my high value for the person who gives me that allow-
ance, and for the opportunities which it may bring with it for some compre-
hensive services to the Kingdome of our dearest Saviour. Tho' my corres-
pondencies are very many, and it engrosses more than a little time and care to
answer the expectations which a great number of correspondents in many parts
of Europe, as well as of America, are pleased to honour me withal ; yett I know
none that I shall be more fond of cherishing than yours, and I wish I may not
carry it on to the degree of troublesome. One of my first essayes to give a
public testimony of my esteem for you, is to be seen in a little book of Pastoral
Desires, which I now humbly tender to your acceptance, and unto your univer-
sities. There is a famous book in the English nation, entituled, The Wliole
Duty of Man, which I take to be but a corrupt and a very defective one. I
shall be sorry if our brief, plain, American Whole Duty of Man, do not handle
the matter (I trust in the Lord it will be found so happy) with more of regard
unto those points of duty which are of all the most considerable, and I shall be
very glad if it find a favourable reception with you that are among the best of
judges. Our presses in this town are continually bringing forth new produc-
tions for the service of our holy religion, whereof more than two hundred, such
as they are, have passed from the mean hand that is now writing to you. But
as I have had a variety of subjects, and places, and occasions to consider in
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