N00896:41
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.
Then the meaning of the words is, that he improved his interest in the King and Court of Persia for the good of those that were both his and the Lords people. It is noted in the first verse of this Chapter, that the King laid a Tribute on all his Subjects, both on the Continent and in the Islands; which probably was by the advice of Mordecai: only some Writers have said, that Mordecai prevailed with the King not to impose that Tribute on his Jewish Subjects.
Then the meaning of the words is, that he improved his interest in the King and Court of Persia for the good of those that were both his and the Lords people. It is noted in the first verse of this Chapter, that the King laid a Tribute on all his Subjects, both on the Continent and in the Islands; which probably was by the advice of Mordecai: only some Writers have said, that Mordecai prevailed with the King not to impose that Tribute on his Iewish Subjects.
3 Every man ought to, and one of a Public Spirit will deny himself out of respect to the good of others Such an one will deny himself as to his worldly interests, provided he may thereby promove the welfare of his people. Such a Spirit there was in the Holy Apostle when he said, I seek not yours but you, and I will gladly spend and be spent for you. 2 Cor. 12▪ 14 15. ⟨p. 8⟩The like Spirit was in the fore-mentioned Governor Nehemiah: He might have exacted Money and Corn of the poor people: Other Governors that had been before him did so; but he did not eat the bread of the Governor, that is, did not require that maintenance which as a Governor was due to him; but considering the poverty of the Country, and that he had an honourable Salary from the King who gave him his Commission▪ He was not willing to be chargeable to the people.