N00499:98
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.
Thus have I with all Freedom uttered these things, whereof I may use the words of the Apostle, We are Bold in our God to speak them. Nor is there any of my Testimonies this day for that great King, who has made the meanest of men, his Ambassadors, whereof I would not say, as a Divine of much ⟨p. 85⟩upon a signal Occasion did, I••l were in a Church full of Kings, I• would speak it? Now, to Transfer these Things into the Circumstances of New-England, is a work which I wholly Resign unto that Great Assembly, which is Met this Day to consider, How Things may Go well among us. I only take leave, to Leave with you these two Meditations thereupon.
THus have I with all Freedom uttered these things, whereof I may use the words of the Apostle, We are Bold in our God to speak them. Nor is there any of my Testimonies this day for that great King, who has made the meanest of men, his Embassadors, whereof I would not say, as a Divine of much ⟨p. 85⟩upon a signal Occasion did, I••l were in a Church full of Kings, I• would speak it? Now, to Transfer these Things into the Circumstances of New-England, is a work which I wholly Resign unto that Great Assembly, which is Met this Day to consider, How Things may Go well among us. I only take leave, to Leave with you these two Meditations thereupon.
I. That so many Things do Go so well among us, as there do, is matter of exceeding Thankfulness. Let us ponder the Lamentable Oppressions and Confusions, that are undergone by others in the World; or let us ponder, the Horrible Number and Malice of them that wish Ill unto us; or, in a word, Let us ponder our own prodigious Misbehaviours in the Days, when our God has been Trying of us: O ponder, and wonder to see what is done! I know not what Resentments there may be in some among us, who perhaps are Strangers to all but Themselves, if not also to Themselves; but I know, what would have been Entertained among us, four years ago; with Transported, with Triumphant Acclamations; and This also I may say, 'Tis with us, as in