N00532:8
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.
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.
TO THE Inhabitants Of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, In NEW-ENGLAND.
TO THE Inhabitants Of the Province of the Massachusets-Bay, In NEW-ENGLAND.
THAT this Colony was happy as to Civil Government whilst they Enjoyed their Former Charter, is most certain. Not that that there where no imperfections attending that First Patent. Our Neighbours in the other Colonies saw that there were some material Defects therein, which are not in their Charters, that were Granted after Ours. But inasmuch as by Virtue thereof, the Freeman had full Power to Choose their own Rulers, they could not be Miserable, unless by unhappy Elections they made themselves so.
THAT this Colony was happy as to Civil Government whilst they Enjoyed their Former Charter, is most certain. Not that that there where no imperfections attending that First Patent. Our Neighbours in the other Colonies saw that there were some material Defects therein, which are not in their Charters, that were Granted after Ours. But inasmuch as by Vertue thereof, the Freeman had full Power to Chuse their own Rulers, they could not be Miserable, unless by unhappy Elections they made themselves so.
That some great Privileges contained in the Old Charter, are not in that which at Present we enjoy, is known to every one: Nevertheless there is that in it which calls for great Thankfulness to God, whose Providence has Smiled as well as Frowned upon us. By Virtue of this Charter every an is Confirmed in the Peaceable Enjoyment of his Estate and Property. Nor can any Taxes now be imposed on you, or Laws made, without your own consent by such Representatives as your selves shall Choose. And (which is a greater matter) you are for ever delivered from all Impositions on Conscience, which not many years ago you were afraid of. You may serve God with all the freedom which your hearts can desire. Nor can there be any Judge or Justice of Peace, but such as the Counsellors who are to assist the Governor shall consent unto. Nor any Counsellors Confirmed beside ch as the Representatives of the Province shall Nominate to the Governor. These are things which if you sleight or undervalue them, the Most High will doubtless be Offended. Nor is a Murmuring Spirit the […] ay to obtain more. When the Children of Israel Murmured against those,