N00896:56
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.
So among the Romans, the Curij, and the Decij, and the Horatij, by which they obtained a lasting renown in the Roman Histories, unto which the Apostle seems to have respect. So among the Grecians those young Spartans were made famous who offered ⟨p. 21⟩their lives to save their Country. The people there had dealt barbarously with the Ambassadors of Darius Histaspis the King of Persia (supposed to be that Ahasuerus spoken of in the Book of Esther) which enraged the Persians against them, so that they resolved to destroy that City. Thereupon they called a General Assembly, and proposal was made whether there was any man that would die to save Spartae from destruction. Two noble young men readily offered themselves to be made a Sacrifice to the wrath of Persia, and accordingly went to the Emperor signifying that they came to offer their lives to appease his anger for the wrong done by their City to his Ambassadors, praying that their people might be spared. Themistocles is famous on the like account. His people dealt very injuriously with him notwithstanding singular services he had done for them, so that he was forced to remove into another Land. There were great offers made to him, in case he would appear in Hostility against his Country: but rather than do so he chose to die. That was a brave rare Spirit in him, and made him honourable to Posterity. Serviceable and public Spirited men, such as have sought the wealth of their people, have not only lived desired, (as Mordecai in the Text before us did) but they have dyed lamented. We have many Instances […] in the Scripture. Hezekiah was a man that set himself to promote the welfare of ⟨p. 22⟩his people both in Temporals and in Spirituals, and he was greatly loved and honoured both living and dying 2 Chron. 32 33. They buried him in the chiefest of the Sepulchres of the Sons of David, and all Judah and the Inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honour at his death. The like to this is noted concerning Jeh•jada the Priest. They buried him among the Kings because he had done Good in Israel, both towards God, and towards his House, 2 Chron 24.16. Josiah was another that set himself with all his might to seek the wealth of his People. And how did all good men Lament and their hearts bleed over his Grave?