N00732:14
The surest way to the greatest honour
The surest way to the greatest honour: discoursed in a sermon, delivered in the audience of His Excellency the Earl of Bellomont, captain general and governor in chief, and the Council, and representatives of the General Assembly of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay, convened at Boston in New-England, May 31st. 1699. Being the day for the election of counsellors in that province. / By Increase Mather.The surest way to the greatest honour: discoursed in a sermon, delivered in the audience of His Excellency the Earl of Bellomont, captain general and governour in chief, and the Council, and representatives of the General Assembly of the province of the Massachusetts-Bay, convened at Boston in New-England, May 31st. 1699. Being the day for the election of counsellors in that province. / By Increase Mather.
Boston: printed by Bartholomew Green for Samuel Phillips, 1699
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.
Three Mighty Emperors, Constantine the Great, Vale•tinian, and Th•odos••s, were wont to Style themselves, The Vassals of JESUS CHRIST. And one of them professed, That He counted his being Christ's Servant, a greater Honour to him, than His being Emperor of the World. And well might He so Judge, since the Highest Angel in Heaven, and all the Nobles that attend the Throne of the Infinite Majesty, esteem Themselves Honoured in being Employed to Serve Christ as Guardians to His People. They are Ministers of God, and Ministers for them that shall be the Heirs of Salvation.
Three Mighty Emperours, Constantine the Great, Vale•tinian, and Th•odos••s, were wont to Style themselves, The Vassals of JESUS CHRIST. And one of them professed, That He counted his being Christ's Servant, a greater Honour to him, than His being Emperor of the World. And well might He so Judge, since the Highest Angel in Heaven, and all the Nobles that attend the Throne of the Infinite Majesty, esteem Themselves Honoured in being Employed to Serve Christ as Guardians to His People. They are Ministers of God, and Ministers for them that shall be the Heirs of Salvation.
My Lord.
Great Men are happier than others, chiefly in this Respect, That they have greater ⟨image ?⟩Opportunities to Honour God, and consequently in being Faithful in the Improvement of those Talents, to obtain a more weighty Crown of Glory than others, in the Day of Christ. God has put into Your Hands a singular Advantage to Serve His Interest and to promote His Glory. Now that He, by whom Princes Rule, and Nobles, and all the Judges of the Earth, will assist You by His Grace to discharge the Great Trust reposed in You, so as that You may leave a most Honourable Name to Posterity, and have Immortal Honour conferred on You, by the King Eternal, at the Last Day, has been, is, nd shall be the Prayer of