N00499:43
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.
Good Things Propounded in a Sermon, TO The GOVERNOR and General Court, of the Massachusetts-Bay NEW-ENGLAND. June 9. 1692.
Good Things Propounded in a Sermon, TO The GOVERNOUR and General Court, of the Massachusetts-Bay NEW-ENGLAND. June 9. 1692.
II Chron. XII. XII. Also in Judah Things went well.
IT ha's been sometimes Remarked, That the Bible is unto the Church, what the Firmament is unto the World; the God of Heaven ha's Gloriously Expanded these Heavenly Oracles over us, and in this Expanse we have those things that are, To give light upon the earth. The Steers-Men, of this poor shattered, sinking Bark, are in a General Assembly this day Convened and there is a Bright Star in the Firmament of the Bible, which I would humbly recommend unto their Observation: Tis the Text now read unto us, whereof I may with good Reason say, Ye shall do well if ye take heed thereunto, as unto a light that shines in a dark place. Nor is it unworthy to be CONSIDERED with a particular Attention by our selves in such a Dark Time as has been upon us. There is, ⟨p. 32⟩Prophecy, as well as History, in those Records, which the Scriptures give us of Transactions that happened between Two and Three Thousand years ago; they Foretell what Effects will still follow upon what Causes; being written for the Admonition, even of Us upon whom the ends of the World are come. It is no less the Solicitous Enquiry of all men. Whether things are like to Go well at this Day among our selves, than 'tis the Importunate Petition of Good men, That they May do so. Now to be satisfied about that matter, I invite you to Look upon a passage that happened so Long ago; Also in Judah, things went well.