N00499:99
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.
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 Psal. 1•6. 2. They said among the Heathen, The Lord has done Great Things for them. Those that have been scoffing at our Prayers, and ⟨p. 86⟩those that have long been waiting to make or see New-England the prey of them that Hated it; All They do with Indignation say, Great Things are done for them! And shall not we our selves then Thankfully account them, Good Things? Yea, I will further and freely Add, That the Friends of New-England abroad are generally pleased with a gladsome and joyful Admiration, at the Great and Good Privileges obtained for us; as indeed some of the last words uttered by one of the Greatest Men, in this Age, when the last Winter he lay a Dying, were, To bless God for the obtaining of what has been Accomplished for us; for so the Excellent Bates in his Funeral Sermon for the Renowned Baxter, has reported it; nor are we Friends unto our selves, if we scornfully undervalue them. Is it not Well, That all Christian Liberties, and all English Liberties, are by the Royal Charter effectually Secured unto us? Is it not well, That all our Titles to our Livings are at once Confirmed, beyond the Reach of all Intruders? Is it not well, That we have our Judges as at the First, and our Counsellors as at the Beginning, and that no Judges, or Counsellors, or Justices can over hereafter be Arbitrarily Imposed upon us? Is it not well, That by our Negative upon any Governor that may hereafter ⟨p. 87⟩come upon us, we are more privileged than any other Plantation in the Kings Dominions? yea, than Ireland? yea, than England it self?