N00732:48
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.
USE. I. This Directs them who are concerned in the Elections of this Day, whom they should choose. Put honour upon them, who will honour God. It was a principle and practice amongst the […], to choose men into the Senate, not for their Riches, but for their Virtue. This did the light of nature direct them unto. It is a great privilege which you enjoy this day, that there can be no Civil Rulers over the Province (excepting the Commander in Chief, and his Deputy) but what the People by their Representatives shall approve of. No other Plantation enjoys the like Privilege. Nor should we, if the Sen•alla•s and To•ija•• amongst us could have had their desires. But since God and the King ha's granted us this favour, to make a right improvement of it, is the way to have it continued; that is to choose such as will use their power for God: And they that have an heart to do so, will also seek the welfare of the People over whom God ha's let them, It is said, Prov. 39. 2. When the Righteous ⟨p. 32⟩are in Authority the […] Well they may, because then such are in Authority as will seek their prosperity. Whenas they that are unfaithful to God, though it may be they may carry it w•ll as long as it is fair weather, they I shrink in the wetting. If a Storm of Temptation happens, that the Interest of the Public, and their own personal are in Competition, they will make the Public give way to their personal Interest. It is related concerning that famous Emperor Constantius Clorus, (who dyed in England, then known by the Name of Britain only) that having in his Court many Christians, that so he might Try their Fidelity, he gave out, that such as would not renounce their Christianity should no longer be his Servants. Whereupon some who were only Christians in Name, but not in Sincerity, thinking to please the Emperor, declared, that they would renounce the Christian Name: which when they had done, Now (said he) I see what you are. You that will be false to your God, will never be faithful unto me, and therefore he banished them his Court. Well then, if you would have those to be over you, that will Conscientiously seek your good, choose them that will be sure to do as God would have them do. When God chose a Ruler for his People, He chose one that would fulfil all his will. Act 13.22.