A50172:91
The way to prosperity a sermon / preached to the honourable convention of the…
The way to prosperity a sermon / preached to the honourable convention of the governor, council, and representatives of the Massachuset-Colony in New-England on May 23, 1690 by Cotton Mather.The way to prosperity a sermon / preached to the honourable convention of the governour, council, and representatives of the Massachuset-Colony in New-England on May 23, 1690 by Cotton Mather.
Boston: printed by Richard Pierce for Benjamin Harris, 1690
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thirdly. Let every man do his Part, and his Best in this Matter, That God may be with us.
Behold, a work provided for all sorts of men.
Pardon me, that I first offer it unto You, that are or may be our Superiors. It was said in Hos. 11. 12. Judah ruleth with God. When Rulers are with God, O happy Government! Unto YOU, much Honoured, ⟨p. 33⟩I would humbly address this Petition, That Your first work may be to think on some considerable Expedient, by which the Presence of God may be secured unto us. A little Consultation may soon produce, what all New-England may bless you for. Yea, tis very much in your Power to do what may have a Tendency to perpetuate the Presence of God unto the succeeding Generations. I cannot for bear uttering the Wish of the great Chytr•us in this Honourable Audience, Urinam potentes rerum Domini majorem Ecclesiae et Scholarum curam susciperent! May a godly and a learned Ministry be every where encouraged: and no Plantations allowed to live without a good Minister in them. May the College be maintained, and that River the wholesome streams whereof have made glad the City of God, and blest us with a privilege above the other Out-goings of our Nation, be kept Running, with Issues beyond those from the Seminaries of Canada or Mexico; may Schools be countenanced, and all good ways to nourish them and support them in every Town, be put in Execution; you shall then probably leave the Presence of God, as a blessed Legacy with such as may come after you. I know not whether we do, or can at this Day, labour under an iller Symptom, than the too general Want of Education in the Rising Generation; ⟨p. 34⟩