N00499:88
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.
If any of us have our Little Displicencies at one another, let us Learn, Privatas Inimicitias Reipublicoe condonare, and bury all in an Entire Amnesty, for the sake of the Public, upon which a New World is now begun. There are Factious Distinctions to be heard among us; whereof, I wish, that by an Universal Forbearance of those Frenzies ⟨p. 72⟩& Hatreds which would Embarrass our Affairs, the Names might be Remanded unto that side of the Ocean, where those Names had their first Original. But I am above all concerned, That the Blessed Unity wherein our Churches do Agree, not only among themselves, but also with the biggest part of the Reformed Protestants abroad, may be still continued. The Romans built a Temple to Quies, as a Goddess; Whereto 'tis yet said, they seldom, or never Sacrificed. But I am for our Sacrificing of every Thing, besides, Faith and a good Conscience, unto, Quiet; not as to any Goddess, but as to a Peerless Blessing; and this peculiarly, in what pertains to the Temple of our God. So shall we have Things Go well, in our Comfort of Love! I am loth to recite a Fable in a Sermon; but I think, I may mention one, with which the Great Melanchthon bespoke that Unity, which he thought would make. Things to Go well among the Protestants of the Former Century; it is this. The Wolves going forth to Battle against the Dogs, first sent a Scout forth, to discover the Strength of the Enemy. The Scout Returning to the Wolves, informed them, that the Dogs indeed were the stronger Army; but, said he, There is no good Understanding among them; their Commanders are ⟨p. 73⟩at variance; and their Colonies do not well hang together; there are several Factions of them; and they are always, Envying, Thwarting, Tearing one another; wherefore fall on them; nothing is more easy than to Ruin such an Army. I pray, why may not This Age also, be made sensible by such a Parable? This I know, That when Things went very Ill, among the ancient people of God, the Good Cyprian said upon it, Non advenissent Fratribus hoec mala, si in unum Fraternitas fuisset adunata; The Brethren had not Seen such horrid things, if they had lived more like Brethren.
If any of us have our Little Displicencies at one another, let us Learn, Privatas Inimicitias Reipublicoe condonare, and bury all in an Entire Amnesty, for the sake of the Publick, upon which a New World is now begun. There are Factious Distinctions to be heard among us; whereof, I wish, that by an Universal Forbearance of those Frenzies