N00896:52
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.
It was excellently spoken by Cyrus (tho' an Heathen Prince) that that man is not worthy to Rule, that is not more virtuous than the most of th•se over whom he does Command A Great man if he is a good man, will by his Example do a great deal of good; as on the other hand if he is a vicious man, his example will be pernicious to many: When Rehoboam forsook the Law of the Lord, all Israel did so with him. 2 Chron. 12.1. They may likewise do much towards the promoting of the Interest of Religion by their Authority as well as by their Example. It is true, that Conscience is not to be imposed on; nevertheless it is a great error to think, that the Civil Magistrate has nothing ⟨p. 17⟩to do in matters of Religion; Why then are they called God• Psal. 82.6. I have said ye are Gods. Have Gods nothing to do in matters of Religion; That name of their Office puts them in mind of their duty. One man in Supreme Authority may have that influence as to cause a whole Nation to become visibly religious; so it was with the Children of Israel, when the Lord raised them up Judges, they would serve the Lord as long as that Judge lived, but when the Judge was dead, they corrupted themselves and served other Gods. Judg. 2.18▪ 19. When they had Kings over them, if the King were of the true Religion, the people would be so too; but if he were an Idolater, then they would be so. And in our own Nation it has been so. In the Reign of our English Josiah (Edward the 6th.) the Nation was of the Protestant Profession; when he was dead, and a Popish Queen got into the Throne, what a dismal change was there throughout the whole Realm in a few weeks time. I have sometimes been affected in reading the Martyr, Ridley his pathetical Lamentation for that Apostasy. We see, then that R•lers may make their people either happy or miserable, because of that influence which they have on the Religion of their Subjects.
It was excellently spoken by Cyrus (tho' an Heathen Prince) that that man is not worthy to Rule, that is not more vertuous than the most of thse over whom he does Command A Great man if he is a good man, will by his Example do a great deal of good; as on the other hand if he is a vicious man, his example will be pernicious to many: When Rehoboam forsook the Law of the Lord, all Israel did so with him.