N00499:68
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.
Truly, Things are like to Go well with a people, when such men become their Governors. When Things went not well among the people, that was the Description of the Magistrates, in Mic. 3. 3. They Eat the Flesh of my People, and flay their Skin from off them; that is, they were Butchers rather than Rulers; or, ΛΑΟΒΟΡΟΙ, as the Philosopher of old, called those, Devourers of the People: but when Rulers are Fathers to a people, Then Things will Go well among them Magistrates that like Caesar, will not say to their Subjects, Ite, or, Go ye, but, Eamus; or, Let us go, that is, that will be willing in all things to take part with them; and Men in Honour, that are Men of Honour too; will ordinarily make all things to Go Desirably.
Truly, Things are like to Go well with a people, when such men become their Governours. When Things went not well among the people, that was the Description of the Magistrates, in Mic. 3. 3. They Eat the Flesh of my People, and flay their Skin from off them; that is, they were Butchers rather than Rulers; or, ΛΑΟΒΟΡΟΙ, as the Philosopher of old, called those, Devourers of the People: but when Rulers are Fathers to a people, Then Things will Go well among them Magistrates that like Caesar, will not say to their Subjects, Ite, or, Go ye, but, Eamus; or, Let us go, that is, that will be willing in all things to take part with them; and Men in Honour, that are Men of Honour too; will ordinarily make all things to Go Desireably.
II. We may take another step in our Enumeration of the Things that would Make for our Peace. Wherefore,
SECONDLY, It is to be said, That Good Ministers are also some of the Best Things among any people; and Things will Go well with a people when they have Good Pastors over them. Can Things Go well with the Flocks, when either they are Sheep without a Shepherd? Or when the woeful Shepherds feed themselves and not the Flock? Can a City do well without their Watchmen? Or the Blind without their Seers? It was well with that Man, to whom 'twas said in