The serviceable man. A discourse made unto the General Court of the Massachusetts colony,…

We ask you to Do Nothing for us, but what ha's a Tendency to maintain our due Dependence on the Authority of England, and to preserve and Enlarge the English Empire. But the Chief Things that we Solicit you to do for us, are such as may keep us from falling under the Displeasure of our God ▪ so that you may reasonably expect no Disturbance but from such as have a mind to approve themselves, The Children without a Yoke. Methinks, there is no call that comes from the Lofty Battlements of Heaven unto you, with ⟨image ?⟩more Emphasis, than that which both my Grandfathers long since chose for the subjects of the Sermons they Preached upon such occasions as that which we now have before us; that in Hag 2.4. Be Strong, Be Strong, Be Strong, for I am with you, saith the Lord of Hosts. May you be so Strong, as to wade through all that may be formidable to Flesh and Blood, and Exercising unto Patience; and so Strong while you sit at our Helm, as to Believe, that tho' the Devil may be so much a Devil still (for as Austin said unto the secure Christians, under the Christian princes; Let me tell you, The Devil is not turned Christian yet!) as to raise an horrible storm, for sinking of this Little Vessel, which ha's the Interests (not only of Cesar, but) of Jesus in the bottom of it, yet our Glorious Lord will seasonably Awake for our Deliverance.

We ask you to Do Nothing for us, but what ha's a Tendency to maintain our due Dependence on the Authority of England, and to preserve and Enlarge the English Empire. But the Cheef Things that we Sollicit you to do for us, are such as may keep us from falling under the Displeasure of our God ▪ so that you may reasonably expect no Disturbance but from such as have a mind to approve themselves, The Children without a Yoke. Methinks, there is no call that comes from the Lofty Battlements of Heaven unto you, with ⟨image ?⟩more Emphasis, than that which both my Granfathers long since chose for the subjects of the Sermons they Preach'd upon such occasions as that which we now have before us; that in Hag 2.4. Be Strong, Be Strong, Be Strong, for I am with you, saith the Lord of Hosts. May you be so Strong, as to wade through all that may be formidable to Flesh and Blood, and Exercising unto Patience; and so Strong while you sit at our Helm, as to Beleeve, that tho' the Divel may be so much a Divel still (for as Austin said unto the secure Christians, under the Christian princes; Let me tell you, The Divel is not turned Christian yet!) as to raise an horrible storm, for sinking of this Little Vessel, which ha's the Interests (not only of Cesar, but) of Jesus in the bottom of it, yet our Glorious Lord will seasonably Awake for our Deliverance.