N00896:47
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.
1 It is evident from that Relation which is between Rulers and their People They are called Shepherds, often so in •he Scripture. It belongs to a Shepherd to take care of the safety of his Sheep, to defend them from Bears or Wolves, or any that would make a prey of them. Thus ought R•lers to do. Mic 5.5. When the Assyrian shall come into our Land, then shall we raise ⟨p. 12⟩against him seven Shepherds, and eight principal men A good Shepherd will venture himself far to save his Sheep from destruction: As we know David when he kept his Fathers Sheep▪ ventured his life to deliver some of his Flock out of the paw of the Lion & of the B•ar: Such an Heroic Spirit does become a faithful Ruler. They are also styled Fathers; When Joseph was (like Mordecai) advanced to be next to the King in the Government of the Land, it was cried before him, Abreck, which seems to be an Egyptian word, signifying, Tender Father. Joseph deserved the Ti•le, having approved himself a Father to that Country, in providing for their welfare, and saving them from ruin. Gen 41 43 It was for this reason that Deborah was styled a Mother in Israel, because she was chief in Government, one that Judged Israel. Judg. 5.7. Not only the Lords people, but the Gentiles esteemed their Rulers as their Fathers. Among the Philistines, Abimeleck was the name they gave to their chief Ruler It was not a proper, but an appellative Name, l•ke that of Ahasuerus among the Persians The English of that word is, My Father the Ruler. The Romans called their chief Ruler, Patrem Pariae An Heathen Writer could say, Bonus Princeps non d•ffe•ta bono patre. A good Ruler does not differ from a good Father▪ Now a Father cannot but be concerned for ⟨p. 13⟩the welfare of his Children. His Children can't suffer, but he'll sympathize with them. He'll prevent their dangers, redress their injuries, procure their happiness to the utmost of his power. So should Rulers do: Such a Magistrate was that Godly Prince in Arabia, holy Job, who could say I was a Father to the poor.