Pietas in patriam the life of His Excellency Sir William Phips, Knt. late Captain…

But yet he minded the Preservation of the King's Rights, with as careful and faithful a Zeal, as became a good Steward for the Crown: And, indeed, he studied nothing more, than to observe such a Temper in all things, as to extinguish what others have gone to distinguish; even the Pernicious Notion of a separate Interest. There was a Time, when the Roman Empire, was infested with a vast number of Governors, who were infamous for Infinite Avarice and Villainy; and referring to this Time, ⟨p. 65⟩the Apostle John had a Vision of, People killed with the Beasts of the Earth.

But yet he minded the Preservation of the King's Rights, with as careful and faithful a Zeal, as became a good Steward for the Crown: And, indeed, he studied nothing more, than to observe such a Temper in all things, as to extinguish what others have gone to distinguish; even the Pernicious Notion of a separate Interest. There was a Time, when the Roman Empire, was infested with a vast number of Governours, who were infamous for Infinite Avarice and Villany; and referring to this Time, ⟨p. 65⟩the Apostle John had a Vision of, People killed with the Beasts of the Earth.

But Sir William Phips was none of those Governors; wonderfully contrary to this wretchedness, was the Happiness of New-England, when they had Governor Phips, using the tenderness of a Father towards the People, and being of the Opinion, Ditare magis esse Regium quàm Ditescere, that it was a braver Thing to enrich the People, than to grow rich himself. A Father, I said; and what if I had said, an Angel too. If I should from Clemens Alexandrinus from Theodoret, and from Jerome, and others among the Ancients, as well as from Calvin and Bucan, and Peter Martyr, and Chemnitius and Bullinger, and a thousand more among the Moderns, bring Authorities for the Assertion, That each Country and Province, is under the special care of some Angel, by a singular Deputation of Heaven assigned thereunto, I could back them with a far greater Authority than any of them all. The Scripture it self does plainly assert it: And hence the most Learned Grotius, writing of Common-Wealths, has a passage to this purpose, His singulis, suos Attributos, esse Angelos, ex Daniele, magno consensu, & Judaei & Christiani veteres colligebant.