N00499:33
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.
One while, a Good Man, is like Moses, of a more Composed Humour. And then he will keep up an even walk with God, Let the winds blow from what Point of the Compass they will upon him. Otherwhiles, a Good Man is like Heman, of a Suspicious Humour. And then he will ever suspect lest a Lying Devil, or a False-Heart, be putting some Cheat upon him. Perhaps the Good Man is like David, of a Courageous Humour. He will then be, Valiant for the Truth upon Earth. Or perhaps he is like Barak, of a Cowardly Humour. He will then by Fear of Death be driven to the utmost preparation for it. I was going to touch upon a Revengeful Humour, and a Penurious Humour; but, I may inform the people of such Humours, that I can't remember any Good Man in all the Bible, of them. So that I only add,—A Good Man would reduce his Humour to, The law of Christ, and then he'll be of an Excellent Spirit. A Man will be most Excellent that way that his own Spirit, or Humour goes.
One while, a Good Man, is like Moses, of a more Composed Humour. And then he will keep up an even walk with God, Let the winds blow from what Point of the Compass they will upon him. Otherwiles, a Good Man is like Heman, of a Suspicious Humour. And then he will ever suspect lest a Lying Divel, or a False-Heart, be putting some Cheat upon him. Perhaps the Good Man is like David, of a Courageous Humour. He will then be, Valiant for the Truth upon Earth. Or perhaps he is like Barak, of a Cowardly Humour. He will then by Fear of Death be driven to the utmost preparation for it. I was going to touch upon a Revengeful Humour, and a Penurious Humour; but, I may inform the people of such Humours, that I can't remember any Good Man in all the Bible, of them. So that I only add,—A Good Man would reduce his Humour to, The law of Christ, and then hee'l be of an Excellent Spirit. A Man will be most Excellent that way that his own Spirit, or Humour goes.
VI. An Intimate communion with the unseen & future world, would make an excellent-spirit, and a good man would pursue that communion. It was confessed concerning Daniel in Dan. 5.12