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

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.

But Sir William Phips was none of those Governours; wonderfully contrary to this wretchedness, was the Happiness of New-England, when they had Governour 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 Jerom, 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.

But New-England had now, besides the Guardian-Angel, who more invisibly intended it's welfare, a Governor, that became wonderfully agreeable thereunto, by his whole Imitation of such a Guardian-Angel. He employed his whole Strength, to guard his People from all Disasters, which threatened them either by Sea, or Land; and it was remarked, that nothing remarkably Disastrous did befall that People, from the Time of his Arrival to the Government, until there arrived an Order for his leaving it: (Except one Thing which was begun before he entered upon the Government:) But instead thereof, the Indians were notably defeated, in the Assaults,