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

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.

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 Souldier, 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 unpresidented Commission brought into an Equality with Fabius.

All this while the great Fabius did not throw up his Cares for the Common-Wealth, but with a wondrous Equality of Mind, endured equally the Malice of the Judges, and the Fury of the Commons; and when Minutius, a while after, was with all his Forces, upon the Point of perishing by the victorious Arms of Hannibal, this very Fabius, not listening to the Dictates of Revenge, came in, and helped him, and saved him; and so by a rare Virtue, he made his worst Adversaries, the Captives of his Generosity.

One of the Ancients, upon such an History, cried out, If Heathens can do thus much for the Glory of their Name, what shall not Christians do for the Glory of Heaven! And Sir William Phips did so much more than thus much, that besides his meriting the Glory of such a Name, as PHIPPIUS MAXIMUS, he therein had upon him the Symptoms of a Title to the Glory of Heaven, in the Seal of his own Pardon from God. Nor was this Generosity in HIS EXCELLENCY, the Governor of New-England, unaccompanied with many other Excellencies; whereof the Piety of his Carriage towards God, is worthy to be first mentioned.