N00499:69
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.
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 3 Joh. 2. Thy Soul prospereth. All Things Go with us, as Things Go with our Souls; if well there, then all is Well. Now the Weal of Souls, does more than a little depend upon those men, whom God hath separated for the Care of Souls. When the people of Antioch, were like to Loose their Minister, they Cried out, We had rather be deprived of the Sun it self, than of our Minister! 'Tis clear, Things will not Go well, where the Lights of Heaven do not shine upon them. Our Lord calls his Ministers, The Stars in his Right-hand; and the Influx of such Stars is greatly needful, that Things may Go well in the lower World.
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 woful 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 3 Joh. 2. Thy Soul prospereth. All Things Go with us, as Things Go with our Souls; if well there, then all is Well. Now the Weal of Souls, does more than a little depend upon those men, whom God hath separated for the Care of Souls. When the people of Antioch, were like to Loose their Minister, they Cry'd out, We had rather be deprived of the Sun it self, than of our Minister! 'Tis clear, Things will not Go well, where the Lights of Heaven do not shine upon them. Our Lord calls his Ministers, The Stars in his Right-hand; and the Influx of such Stars is greatly needful, that Things may Go well in the lower World.