N00499:19
Optanda. Good men described, and good things propounded. A serious consideration of two very…
Optanda. Good men described, and good things propounded. A serious consideration of two very important cases. I. What should be our spirits, and II. What should be our studies, that so all things may go well among us. / By Cotton Mather. ; In two sermons; whereof one, was preached unto the governor, and General Court, of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England; at their first session: June 9. 1692. ; Published by authority[.]Optanda. Good men described, and good things propounded. A serious consideration of two very important cases. I. What should be our spirits, and II. What should be our studies, that so all things may go well among us. / By Cotton Mather. ; In two sermons; whereof one, was preached unto the governour, and General Court, of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay, in New-England; at their first session: June 9. 1692. ; Published by authority[.]
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris, 1692
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
But referring all those Observations, which may be made upon the Circumstances of this Text, unto the place most proper for them, I shall, with Gods Help, Address my Self to Answer this most important CASE. What is that EXCELLENT SPIRIT, which a Good man desires, & studies to be adorned with!
Divines of some Note, have still wished for Sermons, whose Motto's might be, Many Truth's, and not many words. It would be disagreeable to the Composure of the Proverbs from whence my Text is taken, and my Context would give me a very particular ⟨p. 4⟩Check if I should not Crowd what is to be said upon this Case, into as Little Room as ever I can. To Discourse Closely then,
Divines of some Note, have still wished for Sermons, whose Motto's might be, Many Truth's, and not many words. It would be disagreeable to the Composure of the Proverbs from whence my Text is taken, and my Context would give me a very particular ⟨p. 4⟩Check if I should not Croud what is to be said upon this Case, into as Little Room as ever I can. To Discourse Closely then,
By the Spirit, is meant the Soul; Or, that Spiritual and Rational Substance, whereto our Body is to be Vitally United, as a Mansion and an Engine for it. By the Excellency of the Spirit, is meant some Ornament upon the Soul, which may be grateful unto the most High God, and graceful in the Eyes of all Reasonable men. We are therefore to Enquire, What are those Ornaments, with which a Good man would have his own Soul Accomplished?