N00896:40
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.
2. Men ought to, and a Public Spirited man will, not only desire but Endeavour the welfare of others, especially of the Public Interest. This also is implied in Seeking. Mordecai sought the wealth of his people, that is to say, he endeavoured all that was in him to promote the•r welfare. The like is spoken concerning Nehemiah the Governor of Judea, when that […] was made a Province, & a Governor set •ver ⟨p. 6⟩them by the King He was a man that sought the welfare of the Children of Israel, Neh 2 10. He endeavoured it with all his might. Saying and wishing without real endeavours and deeds, is not seeking. If a man seeth his brother naked or destitute of daily food, and shall say to him, be thou warmed, and filled, but shall do nothing for him, what dos it profit, Jam 2.15, 16. So if a man shall pretend that he wisheth well to the public Interest, but dos no way endeavour the promotion of it, he is not a true seeker of it. A Public Spirited man will improve whatever Interest he has in endeavours to promote the public good. He will improve what Interest he has in Heaven for that end, by praying, and stirring up others to pray. By this did Abraham show a public Spirit, in his Intercessions with God for his perishing Neighbours. So did Moses, and Aaron, and Samuel, and all the holy Prophets and the godly Kings of Judah, by fervent prayers to God endeavour the welfare of their people. Or, if he has a great Interest with men on earth, he that is of a public Spirit, will improve it for the benefit of others and not of himself only; especially if he has a singular interest in great ones, in whose power it is to promote the welfare of many. The Prophet Elisha b• this manifested his readiness to endeavour ano•hers welfare. He said to one, 2 K••g 4 13. What is to be done for thee, wouldst thou be spoken for •o the King. ⟨p. 7⟩Thus did Esther show a public spirit in requesting the King in whose heart she had the greatest interest, to be kind to her people. So Mordecai in this way sought the wealth of his people; it is therefore said in the next words, that he did speak peace to all his Seed. When any of them resorted to him, notwithstanding his advancement, he received them with much courtesy and kindness; but the words may be read thus, Seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace for his Seed, that is for his Country men who were of the same blood with him.