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

The Grecians employed still the most Honourable and Considerable Persons they had among them, to make a Funeral Oration, in Commendation of Soldiers that had lost their Lives, in the Service of the Public: And when Sir William Phips, the Captain ⟨p. 109⟩General of New-England, who had often ventured his Life to serve the Public, did expire, that Reverend Person, who was the President of the only University then in the English America, Preached a Sermon on that Passage of the Sacred Writ, Isa. 57.1. Merciful Men are taken away, none considering that the Righteous are taken away from the Evil to come; and in it gave Sir William Phips the following Testimony.

The Grecians employ'd still the most Honourable and Considerable Persons they had among them, to make a Funeral Oration, in Commendation of Souldiers that had lost their Lives, in the Service of the Publick: And when Sir William Phips, the Captain ⟨p. 109⟩General of New-England, who had often ventured his Life to serve the Publick, did expire, that Reverend Person, who was the President of the only University then in the English America, Preached a Sermon on that Passage of the Sacred Writ, Isa. 57.1. Merciful Men are taken away, none considering that the Righteous are taken away from the Evil to come; and in it gave Sir William Phips the following Testimony.

This Province is Beheaded, and lies a Bleeding. A GOVERNOR is taken away, who was a Merciful Man; some think, Too Merciful: And if so, 'tis best Erring on that Hand; and a Righteous Man; who, when he had great Opportunities of gaining by Injustice, did refuse to do so. He was a known Friend unto the best Interests, and unto the Churches of God: Not ashamed of owning them: No, how often have I heard him expressing his Desires to be an Instrument of Good unto them! He was a zealous Lover of his Country, if any Man in the World were so: He exposed himself to serve it; He ventured his Life to save it: In that, a true Nehemiah, a Governor, that sought the welfare of his People. He was one, who did not seek to have the Government cast upon him: No, but instead thereof, to my Knowledge, he did several Times Petition the King, that this People might always enjoy the great Privilege of choosing their own Governor; and I have heard him express his Desires, that it might be so, to several of the Chief Ministers of State in the Court of England. He is now Dead, and not capable of being Flattered: But this I must testify concerning him, That though by the Providence of God, I have been with him, at Home and Abroad, near at Home, and afar off, by Land, and by Sea, I never saw him do any Evil Action, or heard him speak any thing unbecoming a Christian.