N00532:44
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.
1. Civil Government is a great and necessary Blessing. Without it the World would soon be Dissolved, and run into Confusion. As one speak• the World would not then be a KOSMOS, a Beautiful Structure, but a […], an horrid Heap of Disorder. What would Kingdoms be were it not for Government? but (as Austin expresses it) Magna Latrocinia, great Dens of Thieves. Let a people that have found the benefit of Government be without it for a while, and they will quickly be made sensible that 'tis a great and a necessary Blessing. I have read that it was once a Law amongst the Persians, that after the Death of their King, every man should have Liberty to do what he pleased for five days; and in these five days time there was such horrid doings, that all the people prized Government the better all their days after. Now Government cannot well be managed by one alone without the Assistance of Counsellors. Many Eyes see more than one. 'Tis possible that one man may discern that which another does not see. Besides, the Burden will be too heavy for one alone. Hence Moses said to the Children of Israel, I am not able to bear you my self alone. Deu•. • 9. and again verse 12. How can I my self alone bear your Cumbrances, and your Burdens, and your Strife? Where there is a great people, the Burden is too heavy for a mortal man, tho' never so wise and able. Moses was a wise States-man, nevertheless Jethro advised him to take some to assist him, in Ruling that numerous people, because else the Burden would be so heavy upon him, as that he must needs sink and break under the weight of it. Exod. 18. 18. The wisest Ruler in the World needs the assistance of Counsellors. Solomon (the wisest of men) had his Counsellors about him. The truth is, the Light of Nature has taught men not only to Erect Governments, but that there should be Counsellors to assist the Chief Ruler. The Scripture informs us that not only the Kings of Israel, but the Kings of the Gentiles had their Counsellors, with whom they were wont to take Advice in all arduous Affairs. Ezra Blesseth God, who had extended Mercy to him before Artaxerxes the King of Persia, and his Counsellors. Ezra 7. 28.
1. Civil Government is a great and necessary Blessing. Without it the World would soon be Dissolved, and run into Confusion. As one speak the World would not then be a KOSMOS, a Beautiful Structure, but a , an horrid Heap of Disorder. What would Kingdoms be were it not for Government? but (as Austin expresses it) Magna Latrocinia, great Dens of Thieves. Let a people that have found the benefit of Government be without it for a while, and they will quickly be made sensible that 'tis a great and a necessary Blessing. I have read that it was once a Law amongst the Persians, that after the Death of their King, every man should have Liberty to do what he pleased for five days; and in these five days time there was such horrid doings, that all the people prized Government the better all their days after. Now Government cannot well be managed by one alone without the Assistance of Counsellers. Many Eyes see more than one. 'Tis possible that one man may discern that which another does not see. Besides, the Burden will be too heavy for one alone. Hence Moses said to the Children of Israel, I am not able to bear you my self alone. Deu. 9. and again verse 12. How can I my self alone bear your Cumbrances, and your Burdens, and your Strife? Where there is a great people, the Burden is too heavy for a mortal man, tho' never so wise and able. Moses was a wise States-man, nevertheless Jethro advised him to take some to assist him, in Ruling that numerous people, because else the Burden would be so heavy upon him, as that he must needs sink and break under the weight of it.