N00499:40
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.
To the reader: To the Representatives of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, New-England.
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 the Representatives of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, New-England.
There is now to be Seen by you, a Sermon which was Heard, at a Time whereof the Inhabitants of this Province may say, as the Romans once did upon another Occasion, They had not seen a Greater Day. But if upon this Little Sermon, as upon another Pharez, it should be demanded, How hast thou broken forth? it must be answered, That the further Publication of this Discourse, is the effect of the Desires, & Commands, which your House have given me. And I would indeed-with an Abased Soul, adore the Free Grace of God, that any thing of mine, should be either Serviceable or Acceptable to his Dear People; without being Discouraged by the Frequency of my being driven thus unto published Labours; inasmuch as 'tis promised among the Blessings of Heaven, The Lord thy God, will make thee plenteous in every Work of thy Hand: but I would also speak as did the Venerable Baxter, when some Comforted him in his Dying Hours with the Remembrance of what Good had been done, by his Preaching and Writing for the Church of God, Alas, I was but a Pen in Gods Hand; and what praise can be due to a Pen?
THere is now to be Seen by you, a Sermon which was Heard, at a Time whereof the Inhabitants of this Province may say, as the Romans once did upon another Occasion, They had not seen a Greater Day. But if upon this Little Sermon, as upon another Pharez, it should be demanded, How hast thou broken forth? it must be answered, That the further Publication of this Discourse, is the effect of the Desires, & Commands, which your House have given me. And I would indeed-with an Abased Soul, adore the FreeGrace of God, that any thing of mine, should be either Serviceable or Acceptable to his Dear People; without being Discouraged by the Frequency of my being driven thus unto published Labours; inasmuch as 'tis promised among the Blessings of Heaven, The Lord thy God, will make thee plenteous in every Work of thy Hand: but I would also speak as did the Venerable Baxter, when some Comforted him in his Dying Hours with the Remembrance of what Good had been done, by his Preaching and Writing for the Church of God, Alas, I was but a Pen in Gods Hand; and what praise can be due to a Pen?