N04899:21
A strong rod broken and withered. A sermon preached at Northampton, on the Lord's…A strong rod broken and withered. A sermon preach'd at Northampton, on the Lord's…
A strong rod broken and withered. A sermon preached at Northampton, on the Lord's Day, June 26. 1748. On the death of the Honourable John Stoddard, Esq; often a member of His Majesty's Council, for many years chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Hampshire, judge of the probate of wills, and chief colonel of the regiment, &c. : Who died at Boston June 19. 1748. in the 67th year of his age. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton. ; [Three lines from Daniel]A strong rod broken and withered. A sermon preach'd at Northampton, on the Lord's Day, June 26. 1748. On the death of the Honourable John Stoddard, Esq; often a member of His Majesty's Council, for many years chief justice of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Hampshire, judge of the probate of wills, and chief colonel of the regiment, &c. : Who died at Boston June 19. 1748. in the 67th year of his age. / By Jonathan Edwards, A.M. Pastor of the First Church in Northampton. ; [Three lines from Daniel]
Boston: printed by Rogers and Fowle for J. Edwards, 1748
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.
1. I would observe what Qualifications of those who are in public Authority and Rule may properly give 'em the Denomination of strong Rods.
1. I would observe what Qualifications of those who are in publick Authority and Rule may properly give 'em the Denomination of strong Rods.
1. One Qualification of Rulers whence they may properly be denominated strong Rods, is great Ability for the Management of public Affairs. When they that stand in Place of public Authority are Men of great natural Abilities, when they are Men of uncommon Strength of Reason and Largeness of Understanding; especially when they have remarkably a Genius for Government, a peculiar Turn of Mind fitting them to gain an extraordinary Understanding in Things of that Nature, giving Ability, in an especial Manner, for Insight into the Mysteries of Government, and discerning those Things wherein the public Welfare or Calamity consists, and the proper Means to avoid the one and promote the other; an extraordinary Talent at distinguishing what is right and just, from that which is wrong and unequal, and to see through' the false Colours with which Injustice is often disguised, and unravel the false and subtle Arguments and cunning Sophistry that is often made Use of to defend Iniquity; and when they have not only great natural Abilities in these Respects, but when their Abilities and Talents have been improved by Study, Learning, Observation and Experience; and when by these Means they have obtained great actual Knowledge; when they have acquired great Skill in public Affairs, and Things requisite to be known, in Order to their wise prudent and effectual Management; when they have obtained a great Understanding of Men and Things, a great Knowledge of human Nature, and of the Way of accommodating themselves to it, so as most effectually to influence it to wise Purposes; when they have obtained a very extensive Knowledge of Men with whom they are concerned in ⟨p. 9⟩the Management of public Affairs, either those that have a joint Concern in Government, or those that are to be governed; and when they have also obtained a very full and particular Understanding of the State and Circumstances of the Country of People that they have the Case of, and know well their Laws and Constitution; and what their Circumstances require; and likewise have a great Knowledge of the People of Neighbour Nations, States, or Provinces, with whom they have Occasion to be concerned in the Management of public Affairs committed to them; these Things all contribute to the rendering those that are in Authority fit to be denominated strong Rods.