N00499:27
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.
III. A good man would be of an Active and an Useful Spirit, and that is an Excellent One. What we render, Excellent here, may be rendered Precious. A good man would be such a Jewel to his Neighbours, as that they should all fare the better for him; he would give them cause to say concerning him, while he lives, He is a precious man; and when he Dyes, There's one gone that will he missed! It was said concerning one that was an Active and an Useful Instrument for the good of His People, in 2 Sam 18. 3. Thou art worth ten thousand of us. Why, a good man would make himself of much Use to as many Thousands of his Neighbours, as he can; and if this will ⟨p. 12⟩make him of More Worth than many thousands of them, he will be so. It is noted of a Sheep, that every thing about it, is of some good use or other. A good man is a Sheep of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Shepherd of Israel; and he would have some good Use made of whatever God has given him. Indeed, this is the proper Distinction and Character of a Good Man, as in Rom. 5. 7. opposed unto a Righteous one; 'tis a Man, who, Does Good. A good man will be an Excellent Husband and Steward of the Talents, which God has bestowed upon him; and put 'em all to an Excellent Use. He would fain be, as it was noted of the Blessed Bradford; Either with Tongue, or Pen, or Purse, always doing of Good. Perhaps he seldom comes into any Company but he thinks with himself, What useful thing shall I Say or Do, before we part? There are several Relations, which the God of Heaven has placed him in; and he would so discharge those Relations, that all about him should Bless God for ever for him; he would procure those Praises to make Heaven ring every day on his behalf, Blessed be God for such a Magistrate, for such a Minister, for such a Father, such a Master, such an Husband, or such a Son! All his Gifts, and all his Graces, and all his Capacities ⟨p. 13⟩he would so lay out, that the Church of God, may have the Advantage of them. And, if you can but evidently lay before him, An opportunity to be Serviceable, you need not use many Motives to make him take it: no, thinks he, My Opportunities are my Treasures! His Riches, if God have sent him any, how does he Employ a good portion of them? It was said, If Riches Increase, set not your Hearts upon them; instead of That, he sets his Heart upon Contriving what Good he shall do with what he has?