N00896:50
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 manifest from those Scripture comparisons whereby Rulers are described▪ e. g. They are compared to Foundations: Because of the Iniquity found among all the Rulers in the Nation under Sauls Reign, the Psalmist complained that all the foundations of the earth were out of course. Psal. 82.5. Hence the Hebrews call a Ruler by the name of Adon from Eden, which signifies a Basis or Foundation. So the Greek [Greek or Hebrew] If the Foundation is solid, the Superstructure may stand, but if that be sandy or rotten, all falls to ruin. Hence also they are compared to Corner-stones. Zech. 10.4 Out of him came forth the Corner, that is the Ruler. The main stress of the Building lies on the Corner-stones; remove those and the House cannot stand Hence also Rulers are compared to Pillars; When Saul was chief in Government, he granted Commissions to very Ungodly men, he loved to prefer such; but when the Government came into Davids hand, he was all for preferring good men, and by that means he saved the State from ruin: He therefore spe•ks, as in Psal 75.3. The Earth and all the Inhabitants thereof are dissolved. I bear up the Pillars of it. The safety of an house depends on the pillars of it; if they fall all is in danger.
1. It is manifest from those Scripture comparisons whereby Rulers are described▪ e. g. They are compared to Foundations: Because of the Iniquity found among all the Rulers in the Nation under Sauls Reign, the Psalmist complained that all the foundations of the earth were out of course. Psal. 82.5. Hence the Hebrews call a Ruler by the name of Adon from Eden, which signifies a Basis or Foundation. So the Greek 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 If the Foundation is solid, the Superstructure may stand, but if that be sandy or rotten, all falls to ruin. Hence also they are compared to Corner-stones. Zech. 10.4 Out of him came forth the Corner, that is the Ruler. The main stress of the Building lies on the Corner-stones; remove those and the House cannot stand Hence also Rulers are compared to Pillars; When Saul was chief in Government, he granted Commissions to very Ungodly men, he loved to prefer such; but when the Government came into Davids hand, he was all for preferring good men, and by that means he saved the State from ruin: He therefore speks, as in Psal 75.3. The Earth and all the Inhabitants thereof are dissolved. I bear up the Pillars of it. The safety of an house depends on the pillars of it; if they fall all is in danger.