N00532:39
The great blessing, of primitive counsellors. Discoursed in a sermon, preached in the audience…The great blessing, of primitive counsellours. Discoursed in a sermon, preached in the audience…
The great blessing, of primitive counsellors. Discoursed in a sermon, preached in the audience of the governor, Council, and representatives, of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New-England. May 31st. 1693. Being the day for the election of counsellors, in that province. / By Increase Mather. President of Harvard College in Cambridge, and teacher of a church at Boston, in New-England. ; [One line epigram in Latin]The great blessing, of primitive counsellours. Discoursed in a sermon, preached in the audience of the governour, Council, and representatives, of the province of the Massachusetts Bay, in New-England. May 31st. 1693. Being the day for the election of counsellours, in that province. / By Increase Mather. President of Harvard Colledge in Cambridge, and teacher of a church at Boston, in New-England. ; [One line epigram in Latin]
Boston, : Printed and sold, by Benjamin Harris, over-against the Old-Meeting-House., 1693
Title page typeset from the transcription.
PRIMITIVE COUNSELLORS, A Great BLESSING.PRIMITIVE COUNSELLOURS, A Great BLESSING.
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.
2. Fidelity towards men is another requisite in a Counsellor. A Primitive Counsellor is qualified with Righteousness as well as Piety. Choose men of Truth said Jethro. Counsellors are Rulers. Now he that Ruleth over men must be Just, Ruling in the Fear of God, 2 Sam. 23. 3. They ought to be men, that will give to God the things that are Gods, and to Caesar, the things that are Caesars; yea, that will give to all men their due. Counsellors ought to be, and Counsellors at the Beginning were, Faithful to him that is the Chief Ruler, in advising him for the best: Such an one was Hushai the Arebite unto David, 2 Sam. 17. 15. Thus and thus did Ahitophel Counsel, and thus and thus have I Counselled. He Saved the Life of his Prince by giving that Counsel. Men in such a Station should moreover approve themselves faithful to the Interest of the People, whose Welfare as Counsellors they are bound to endeavour. The Prince and the People have not opposite Interests, He that promoves the true Interest of the one, does so of the other also. A great Emperor was wont to say, Non mibi sed populo; I am Set in this High Station, not for my self, but for the Nations sake. So are Counsellors to advise unto such things as the People, the Country who are Concerned in them, may have cause to Bless God for them. Such a Counsellor was Mordecai in the Court of Persia. Esth. 10. 3. Mordecai the Jew was next unto King Ahasuerus; He was Advanced to be a Right Honourable Privy Counsellor, ⟨p. 13⟩Seeking the Wealth of his People. It was said of one of the Kings of France, that He was, Titularis non tutelaris Rex, defuit non praefuit Reipublicae So may it be said of such Counsellors, as do not intend and faithfully design the Good of that people, over whom the Providence of God has placed them, they have only the Name, but not the nature of Counsellors in them. True Primitive Counsellors they are not.
2. Fidelity towards men is another requisite in a Counseller. A Primitive Counseller is qualified with Righteousness as well as Piety. Choose men of Truth said Jethro. Counsellers are Rulers. Now he that Ruleth over men must be Just, Ruling in the Fear of God,