N00428:99
The serviceable man. A discourse made unto the General Court of the Massachusetts colony,…
The serviceable man. A discourse made unto the General Court of the Massachusetts colony, New-England, at the anniversary election 28d. 3m. 1690. / By Cotton Mather Minister of the Gospel. ; [Two lines of Latin quotation]
Boston: printed by Samuel Green for Joseph Browning, 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.
and we persuade our selves, That you are Thoughtful of the Account which is to be given in the Day, when a Well done Good & Faithful Servant, will be worth ten thousand Worlds. The Best and the Most that you can Do for us, is vigorously, and impartially to Execute the wholesome Laws, which the Successive General Courts have Enacted for the Suppression of all Vice among us; and to Encourage all Inferior Officers, as Constables, Jury-men, Tithing men, in the Discovering of all Offenders against those Holy Laws. You are doubtless persuaded, That a Feeble Executor of the Laws, is more Criminal than a Direct Violater of them; and it is the Expectation of the Almighty God, that every man of you should approve himself a Phinehas, for zealous Testimonies against the Sins that bring Humane Society under the Blows of His provoked wrath.
and we perswade our selves, That you are Thoughtful of the Account which is to be given in the Day, when a Well done Good & Faithful Servant, will be worth ten thousand Worlds. The Best and the Most that you can Do for us, is vigorously, and impartially to Execute the wholsome Laws, which the Successive General Courts have Enacted for the Suppression of all Vice among us; and to Encourage all Inferiour Officers, as Constables, Jury-men, Tything men, in the Discovering of all Offenders against those Holy Laws. You are doubtless perswaded, That a Feeble Executor of the Laws, is more Criminal than a Direct Violater of them; and it is the Expectation of the Almighty God, that every man of you should approve himself a Phinehas, for zealous Testimonies against the Sins that bring Humane Society under the Blows of His provoked wrath.
Indeed, there is but only this one word of ⟨image ?⟩God, that I am Solicitous now to Entertain you with; tis that in Josh. 1.5, 6. I will not fail thee, nor Forsake thee; Be Strong, and of a Good Courage. May there be that Courage in you, as to forbear no Legal and Righteous Act, notwithstanding the Opposition of our Incendiaries; that Courage as to be Affrighted by no little Bug-bears from the doing of what must be done for the Common safety of us all. While you are obtaining the Good Thoughts of God for your selves, you will have cause to say before Him, as in