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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.
The never enough lamented Death of our late King of glorious memory, has made way for great calamities to break in upon the Protestant Churches. If they are in a flame, will not some of those sparks fly over to New England? New England could not have lost a greater friend. How often have I heard very kind expressions respecting His Subjects in New England proceed out of that Royal mouth, which I cannot now think of without bleeding sorrow. It was doubtless from a singular favour which His Majesty had for His Subjects in this Province, that He was graciously pleased to Commission one whose Birth and Education has been amongst us, and whose Honourable Father many years since Sustained the like Relation, to be our Governor.
The never enough lamented Death of our late King of glorious memory, has made way for great calamities to break in upon the Protestant Churches. If they are in a flame, will not some of those sparks fly over to New England? New England could not have lost a greater friend. How often have I heard very kind expressions respecting His Subjects in New England proceed out of that Royal mouth, which I cannot now think of without bleeding sorrow. It was doubtless from a singular favour which His Majesty had for His Subjects in this Province, that He was graciously pleased to Commission one whose Birth and Education has been amonst us, and whose Honourable Father many years since Sustained the like Relation, to be our Governour.
We have great cause to acknowledge the Royal favour of Her present Majesty, Queen Anne in Renewing a Commission for the Government of this Province to be continued in the same hand in which His late Majesty had left it. And it is matter ⟨image ?⟩of great Thankfulness to God that there is now on the Throne a Protestant Princess, who has Emitted a Proclamation against Immorality & Irreligion, & has showed a singular tenderness to Her Subjects, tho' differing in their sentiments as to circumstantials in Religion. A Queen on the English Throne was an happy instrument of bringing down the pond Spaniard. May Her present Britannic Majesty humble the pride of France, all Europe will have cause of joy.