N00499:78
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.
But, III. hings will not Go well among a people, unless the People themselves ⟨p. 59⟩do Their part about it. And therefore, Thirdly, Let all People Do well, and all Things will Go well, among them. You know that not only Zerubbabel, and Joshua, but, All the People of the Land, must be called upon, to Do what they can for the Good Order of their Affairs. When there are Ill Spirits, and Ill Doings prevailing among a People, all Things will be Ill-going there, let their Overseers do what they can unto the contrary. Indeed, I cannot more Appositely to this purpose Express my self, than in the Words of a Great Writer, which would certainly help us to more Infallible Divinations, than the Absurd and Juggling Pamphlets of the Astrologers, which in the English Nation are so fondly Doted on. They are these; When God is Angry with a people, and intends to Dash them to pieces; He leaves them without Heart, without Counsel, without Strength, without fit Commanders; Involved so with Difficulties Foreign and Domestic, they know not how to Extricate themselves. If one give good Counsel, presently another by Captious Arguments overthrows it, and those that should Judge of both, have not Light enough to discern which is for the public Safety, and which Destructive. If any Opportunity of Service be presented, either there is no Notice taken of it, or to save a little Charges, it ⟨p. 60⟩is Neglected; or, none knows how to Improve it. Dangers Imminent, are, either not foreseen, or slighted: Traitors creep in, which Discover their Counsels to their Enemies. There are Jealousies and Factions among their Great Men, in favour whereof, one studies to cross the Designs and Successes of the other, tho' the Public be undone by it. The Treasury is wasted in Needless Expenses. And finally, while all seek their own profit, and no mans Heart is upon the Public Good; all runs to ruin. Thus my Author. Nor would a thousand Blazing Stars over the Heads of a People, portend more against Things Go well among them, than the Black Omens that have been thus recounted. But if we then make the Demand of the Psalmist, Show me a Token for Good; I say, Let such Things be seen, as we are now going to Enumerate.
But, III. hings will not Go well among a people, unless the People themselves ⟨p. 59⟩