N00896:69
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.
But what shall I say concerning the dismal Tidings which is Arrived to us within these few days! Know you not that a Prince and a great Man is fallen in England, whose fall has made not only Three Kingdoms, but all Europe to Shake! A Prince that manifested such a Princely and Public Spirit as the like has seldom been known. A Prince that when a Neighbouring Monarch offered his Assistance to make him a King over the United Provinces, He generously refused it. A Prince that declared he would appear in the Defence of his Country as long as there was any part of it remaining, and when all was gone, would himself die in the last Dyke in Holland. A Prince that sent word to a man of great Interest in Amsterdam, that he desired his friendship so long and no longer than as he did seek the welfare of his people.
But what shall I say concerning the dismal Tidings which is Arrived to us within these few dayes! Know you not that a Prince and a great Man is fallen in England, whose fall has made not only Three Kingdoms, but all Europe to Shake! A Prince that manifested such a Princely and Publick Spirit as the like has seldom been known. A Prince that when a Neighbouring Monarch offered his Assistance to make him a King over the United Provinces, He generously refused it. A Prince that declared he would appear in the Defence of his Country as long as there was any part of it remaining, and when all was gone, would himself dy in the last Dyke in Holland. A Prince that sent word to a man of great Interest in Amsterdam, that he desired his friendship so long and no longer than as he did seek the welfare of his people.
And when God m•de him our King, he was the great Instrument of delivering our Nation from Popery and Slavery. A King that has consented to such Acts of Parliament for the benefit of the Subject as never King in England before him did. A King that restored Civil Liberties his Subjects, and Religious Liberties to many of them who had been persecuted & opposed. And when the Crown of Scotland was offered to him, he declared, that if it were expected that he should be a Persecutor of any for their Religion, He would not accept of a Crown on ⟨p. 35⟩