N00896:122
The excellency of a public spirit discoursedThe excellency of a publick spirit discoursed
The excellency of a public spirit discoursed: in a sermon, preached in the audience of the General Assembly of the province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England, May 27. 1702. Being the day for election of counsellors in that province. / By Increase Mather. ; [Four lines of quotations]The excellency of a publick spirit discoursed: in a sermon, preached in the audience of the General Assembly of the province of the Masachusetts Bay in New England, May 27. 1702. Being the day for election of counsellors in that province. / By Increase Mather. ; [Four lines of quotations]
printed by B. Green for Nicholas Boone, 1702
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.
3. Stars in general (and the Morning Star in special) are a common benefit to the World. All the Nations on the Earth are benefited by the influences thereof. This must we say concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, he is a Blessing to all the Nations of the World. It was said therefore to Abraham, Gen 26.18 In thy seed (that is in Christ) shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed. All the E••ct of God, of whom there are some of all Nations do feel the saving influence of this Star. But besides that, Christ has been a Blessing to all men whatever; all Mankind has •ared the better for him; for it is by means of Jesus Christ that the world has been put under a Dispensation of Divine Patience: The tree of mankind has not been cut down, because Christ has interposed and preserved it. As it is said concerning the barren Fig-tree, by which the Jewish Church and Nation was intended, when there was a sentence passed to Cut it down, […] Dresser of the Vineyard said, spare it ou• year […], and if it does not bring forth fruit, then it […] be •ut down. In like manner when the ⟨p. 69⟩Law of God had sentenced mankind to be cut down, Christ stepped in and said, spare that tree, till all the Elect be called, and then it shall be cut down. So that Christ is in that respect a Saviour of all men, but especially of them that do believe.
3. Stars in general (and the Morning Star in special) are a common benefit to the World. All the Nations on the Earth are benefited by the influences thereof. This must we say concerning the Lord Jesus Christ, he is a Blessing to all the Nations of the World. It was said therefore to Abraham, Gen 26.18 In thy seed (that is in Christ) shall all the Nations of the Earth be blessed. All the E••ct of God, of whom there are some of all Nations do feel the saving influence of this Star. But besides that, Christ has been a Blessing to all men whatever; all Mankind has •ared the better for him; for it is by means of Jesus Christ that the world has been put under a Dispensation of Divine Patience: The tree of mankind has not been cut down, because Christ has interposed and preserved it. As it is said concerning the barren Fig-tree, by which the Jewish Church and Nation was intended, when there was a sentence pass'd to Cut it down, Dresser of the Vineyard said, spare it ou year , and if it does not bring forth fruit, then it be ut down. In like manner when the