N00896:17
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.
Dedication: To the HONOURED Representatives of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New England…
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.
For when the two most aged Ministers in the Country, left in the Hands of the ⟨image ?⟩Churches not long since a Testimony wherein were these words.
Concerning all sinful attempts to overturn the Order of the Gospel hitherto upheld in the Churches of New-England, and to spoil that Glorious Work of God which we have seen Him doing with a Series of Remarkable Providence, in Erecting such Congregational Churches, we would now bear our Testimony, That they are doubtless displeasing to our Lord Jesus Christ, who Walks in the midst of these Golden Candlesticks, and they will prove bitterness in the latter end.
Concerning all sinful attempts to overturn the Order of the Gospel hitherto upheld in the Churches of New-England, and to spoil that Glorious Work of God which we have seen Him doing with a Series of Remarkable Providence, in Erecting such Congregational Churches, we would now bear our Testimony, That they are doubtless displeasing to our Lord Iesus Christ, who Walks in the midst of these Golden Candlesticks, and they will prove bitterness in the latter end.
The Representatives of the General Assembly then Sitting did express so much concern for the Churches, as to Vote their Thanks should be rendered unto those Reverend Persons for this their faithful Testimony. At which time also one of them, (namely Mr. Higginson) did in a Letter, all drawn up with his own hand recommend that matter which is in the Sermon emitted here with again proposed. In which Letter are the following words.
The Representatives of the General Assembly then Sitting did express so much concern for the Churches, as to Vote their Thanks should be rendred unto those Reverend Persons for this their faithful Testimony. At which time also one of them, (namely Mr. Higginson) did in a Letter, all drawn up with his own hand recommend that matter which is in the Sermon emitted here with again proposed. In which Letter are the following words.