N00896:8
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.
Dedication: The Epistle Dedicatory. To His EXCELLENCY, Joseph Dudley, Esqr. Captain General and Gov…
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.
SIR,
When I was by the Representatives of this Province in the last General Assembly desired to Preach on the Day S•ated for the Election of Counsellors, it was hoped that your Excellency might have been with us before that time. Since you could not hear, I am willing you should see (if you shall think it worth your Perusal) what I then delivered, not doubting but that you will Seek the Wealth of your People, who are dear to Christ, and by the Letters you were pleased to send to me when in England, I perceive that they are so to you.
WHen I was by the Representatives of this Province in the last General Assembly desired to Preach on the Day S•ated for the Election of Counsellors, it was hoped that your Excellency might have been with us before that time. Since you could not hear, I am willing you should see (if you shall think it worth your Perusal) what I then delivered, not doubting but that you will Seek the Wealth of your People, who are dear to Christ, and by the Letters you were pleased to send to me when in England, I perceive that they are so to you.
In the first place I Congratulate your safe Arrival to your Country, and to your Desirable Relations, after so long an absence. A mercy which doubtless you ⟨image ?⟩have Prayed to God for many an hundred time. Now then let your Excellency give me leave to speak freely to you, & to say, That our Holy Lord Jesus Christ expects much from you. For He has trusted you with Five Talents, for every one of which you know Sir, that you must be accountable to Him who has given them to you. He has blessed you with rare accomplishments both natural and acquired; & has now put into your hands a Talent of Power and Authority, as that there is no Person in all New England, so advantaged to Serve and Honour Christ, by promoting the Welfare of these His Churches, as you are. The Providence of God has been wonderful towards you In some Remarkables you have been like Joseph. Let me pray you to imitate Joseph, not only in Seeking the good of thse under your Government, as He did; but in a perfect forgetting whatever may have seemed grievous unto you. Nor do I speak this, as i I believed you needed an Excitation thereunto. You have (I am well assured) that Greatness of Soul in you, as to disdain any thought of revenge. If a Noble Roman when advanced to great Honour