N00499:77
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.
And this our God, has ten thousand ways to blast the Affairs of them that with a flat Rebellion against that Edict of Heaven, go to Withhold more than is meet. They who commit that Sacrilege, do but prove Penny-wise and Pound-Foolish at the Last; nor will Things Go Well, where the Spirit of Judas prevails, which counted all Thrown away, that was laid out upon the Lord Jesus Christ. As for our selves, 'tis hopeful, that the Devil will never be able to break up our Churches, by any Storm of Direct and Formal Persecution upon us; but the Slighting, the Starving, the Crippling of a Gospel Ministry among us, is the only way, whereby the Devil can again make himself the Landlord of the Territories, from whence the Silver-Trumpets of our Lord have here once Expelled him. And can any man Dream that Things will Go Well, where men find their own Curse, in that Old Blessing of the Tribe of Levi? in Deut.33.11. Lord, smite thou the Loins of them that Rise up against him, and of them that Hate him, that they Rise not again.
And this our God, has ten thousand wayes to blast the Affayrs of them that with a flat Rebellion against that Edict of Heaven, go to Withold more than is meet. They who commit that Sacriledge, do but prove Penny-wise and Pound-Foolish at the Last; nor will Things Go Well, where the Spirit of Judas prevails, which counted all Thrown away, that was laid out upon the Lord Jesus Christ. As for our selves, 'tis hopeful, that the Devil will never be able to break up our Churches, by any Storm of Direct and Formal Persecution upon us; but the Slighting, the Starving, the Creepling of a Gospel Ministry among us, is the only way, whereby the Devil can again make himself the Landlord of the Territories, from whence the Silver-Trumpets of our Lord have here once Expelled him. And can any man Dream that Things will Go Well, where men find their own Curse, in that Old Blessing of the Tribe of Levi? in Deut.33.11. Lord, smite thou the Loyns of them that Rise up against him, and of them that Hate him, that they Rise not again.