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

By such Trials, the Wisdom of Heaven still prepared him, as David before him, for successive Advancements; and as he behaved himself with a marvellous Long-Juffering, when he was Tried, by such Mortifications, thus when he came to be Advanced, he convinced all Mankind, that he had perfectly Buried all the old Offences, in an Eternal Amnesty. I was my Self an Ear-witness, that one, who was an Eye-witness of his Behaviour under such Probations of his Patience, did, long before his Arrival to that Honour, say unto him, Sir, Forgive those that give you these Vexations, and know that the God of Heaven intends, before he has done with you, to make you the Governor of New-England! And when he did indeed become the Governor of New-England, he showed that he still continued a Governor of himself, in his Treating all that had formerly been in ill Terms with him, with as much Favour and Freedom, as if there had never happened the least Exasperations: Though any Governor, that Kens Hobbianism, can easily contrive Ways enough to wreak a Spite, where he owes it.

By such Trials, the Wisdom of Heaven still prepared him, as David before him, for successive Advancements; and as he behaved himself with a marvellous Long-Juffering, when he was Tried, by such Mortifications, thus when he came to be Advanced, he convinced all Mankind, that he had perfectly Buried all the old Offences, in an Eternal Amnesty. I was my Self an Ear-witness, that one, who was an Eye-witness of his Behaviour under such Probations of his Patience, did, long before his Arrival to that Honour, say unto him, Sir, Forgive those that give you these Vexations, and know that the God of Heaven intends, before he has done with you, to make you the Governour of New-England! And when he did indeed become the Governour of New-England, he shew'd that he still continued a Governour of himself, in his Treating all that had formerly been in ill Terms with him, with as much Favour and Freedom, as if there had never happened the least Exasperations: Though any Governour, that Kens Hobbianism, can easily contrive Ways enough to wreak a Spite, where he owes it.

It was with some Christian Remark, that he read the Pagan-story of the Renowned Fabius Maximus, who being preferred unto the highest Office in the Common-Wealth, did through a Zeal for his Country, overcome the greatest Contempts that any Person of Quality could have received. Minutius the Master of the Horse, and the next Person in Dignity to himself, did first privately Traduce him, as one that was no Soldier, and less Politician; and he afterwards did both by Speeches and Letters, prejudice not only the Army, but also the Senate against him, so that Minutius was now by an unprecedented Commission brought into an Equality with Fabius.