N02239:79
Christodulus. A good reward of a good servant. Or, The service of a glorious…
Christodulus. A good reward of a good servant. Or, The service of a glorious Christ, justly demanded and commended, from a view of the glory with which it shall be recompensed [sic]. With some commemoration of Mr. Thomas Walter, lately a Pastor to a church in Roxbury: who had an early dismission from what of that service was to be done in this world. Jan. 10. 1724--5. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. and F.R.S. ; [Two lines of quotation in Latin]Christodulus. A good reward of a good servant. Or, The service of a glorious Christ, justly demanded and commended, from a view of the glory with which it shall be recempensed [sic]. With some commemoration of Mr. Thomas Walter, lately a Pastor to a church in Roxbury: who had an early dismission from what of that service was to be done in this world. Jan. 10. 1724--5. / By Cotton Mather, D.D. and F.R.S. ; [Two lines of qutation in Latin]
Boston: printed by T. Fleet for S. Gerrish, 1725
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 will be no disagreeable Digression from the Subject we have been upon, but be as well a Direction to the Candidates of the Ministry, as in some degree a Description of him whom we have been speaking of; to recite some excellent and expressive Words, of that Great and Good Man, the admirable WITSIUS, in his Noble Oration, De Theologo Modesto.
Monstra mihi Hominem, qui sui neque Contemptor neque Admirator fit; qui Divinae munificentiae Dona, procul Invidia, aeque pretio in aliis aestimet; qui Affectus in Ordinem cogere, et Animum, Linguam, stylum Moderari didicit; qui res quasque suis prudenter Momentis Librat; Easque ita prosequitar uti Singularum genio convenit; qui neque Rigidus neque Mollis est, sed tractabilis: Sine Pusillanimitate Lenis, sine Lentitudine Patiens, sine Tetricitate Gravis.—Sine Jactantia Fortis, sine Contumacia Constans: Talem, inquam, mihi monstrato hominem, et eum ego vere MODESTUAI VIRUM appellabo. Qui idem si omnes hasce Virtutes ad verum Divinarum tractationem conferet, iisque Reverentiam ⟨p. 33⟩addet que tremendis Religionis nostrae Mysterijs debetur, eundem ego MODESTUM Salutabo THEOLOGUM; Ill• assurgam, in Illius amplexus ruam, Illum Exosculabor, Illius pectori admovebo meum, arctoque amoris nexu comprimam, donec Venerabilem istum Characterem menti meae impressero.
The Young Ministers who have this lovely Portraiture of a St. Modestus thus before them, do not want, that it should be Translated into their Mother-Tongue for their understanding of it. And if they are so Wise, as to maintain a Low but Just Opinion of Themselves; with not a base Envy at, but a due Value for, the Worth to be owned in Others: If they Govern their Passions with Moderation; and manage their Sentiments of Things according to the real Importance of them: If they are discreetly Treatable; with Discretion Gentle and Patient; Grave but not Sour; Stout but not Vain; Constant without Obstinacy: And if having such Good Qualities beautifying of them, they treat the Mysteries of our Holy Religion with the Reverence which is due unto them; They will then give such a Translation of it, as will be not only Intelligible to all People whatsoever, but also render themselves Amiable to all the People of GOD, among whom they are to Shine as Lights in the World.