N00499:24
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.
To Live Soberly, and Honestly, Doing no body any Harm, and to keep up a Round of Duties from Sabbath to Lecture, and from Lecture to Sabbath, here is what others, that are none of the worst, use to do; but a Good man is for Doing more than others. He is for Doing Nobler things than they do; and for doing the same things which they do, upon far Nobler ends. As for Natural Actions; his Eating, Drinking, Sleeping, and Recreation; tis not merely because he is Hungry, Thirsty, Weary, and his Appetites call for it; this is what others do; No, but it is, that so he may be Supported and Refreshed in the work of God. As for Civil Actions; his Trading, Ploughing, Working, and Visitation; it is not barely to accommodate himself with Worldly Advantages; that is what others do; No, but it is to Glorify God in the station wherein God has placed him. ⟨p. 7⟩And then, in his Religious Actions, a Good man, would have more Piety and more Charity, than other men. Others have some Faith; but he would have such an one as Abraham had; others have some Love; but he would have such an one as David had. Others have some Repentance, but he would have such an one as Peter had. Others do something for God; but he would be able to say with Paul, I have Laboured more abundantly than they all! Of Good men, tis said, in Isa. 40.31. They shall mount up with Wings as Eagles. Truly, A Good man is for High Flights in Religion; he would fain Soar above the middle Region; Yea, he would, if it might be, come to move with and like the very Angels themselves, who you know, are called Excellent Spirits. He hopes he shall one Day come to be, As the Angels; and therefore he would now be of such an Angelical Spirit, that the very Angels themselves may take Delight in attending on him. As for that Creeping Frame of some, who would gladly know the Minimum quod Sic, or, just how much Religion will set a man within the Gates of Heaven, that they may there make a Stop and Stand; I think, tis Incompatible to a Godly man.
To Live Soberly, and Honestly, Doing no body any Harm, and to keep up a Round of Duties from Sabbath to Lecture, and from Lecture to Sabbath, here is what others, that are none of the worst, use to do; but a Good man is for Doing more than others. He is for Doing Nobler things than they do; and for doing the same things which they do, upon far Nobler ends. As for Natural Actions; his Eating, Drinking, Sleeping, and Recreation; tis not meerly because he is Hungry, Thirsty, Weary, and his Appetites call for it; this is what others do; No, but it is, that so he may be Supported and Refreshed in the work of God. As for Civil Actions; his Trading, Ploughing, Working, and Visitation; it is not barely to accommodate himself with Worldly Advantages; that is what others do; No, but it is to Glorify God in the station wherein God has placed him.