The Serviceable Man, Title page – Dedication
The Serviceable Man.
A Discourse Made unto the GENERAL COURT OF THE Massachusets COLONY, New-England, At the Anniversary ELECTION 28 d. 3 m. 1690.
By COTTON MATHER Minister of the Gospel.
Dies brevis, opus multum, merces magna, Pater-familias urget, operarij ne sint pigri.
Boston, Printed by Samuel Green, for Joseph Browning at the corner of the Prison Lane next the Exchange. 1690
VOted by the Deputies, that the Reverend Mr. Cotton Mather have the Thanks of this House Returned for the Sermon Preached at their Request on the Day of Election, and that it be forthwith Printed.
May 29. 1690. Ebenezer Prout Clerk.
To my Countrey.
ABove Seventy Years have Rolled about, since a Frenchman, who was by a Ship-wreck made a Captive among the Indians of this Countrey, did before his Exp…ration, as if under some Inspiration, tell those tawny Pagans, That God being angry with them for their wickedness, would not only destroy them, but also people the Place with another Nation, which would not live after their Bruitish manners. And accordingly, thô those Infidels blasphemously Replyed, God could not kill them; yet the Almighty God immediately after this visited them with a Pestilent and Prodigious Disease, which swept them away in such vast multitudes, that our first Planters thereby found the Land marvelously Emptied of its Primitive Inhabitants, and yet almost Covered with their unburied Carcases; while the Survivers were smitten into awful and humble Regards of the English, by the Terrors which the Prophesie had Imprinted on them. Thus, Thou hast brought a Vine out of Europe, O Lord, Thou hast cast out the Heathen and Planted it! But we are very stupid, if we do not read an Admonition to our selves, in this Ancient and Famous Providence. Indeed I am not without my lively and grounded Hopes, That our Good God will not ever (or at least, as yet) Remove the People which is now enriching this part of the New World, for Another Nation to succeed in the room thereof; however there are Ill men enough that have desired it. But we are surrounded with myriads of Dangers, and whether we consider our Corruptions within us, or our Enemies without us, we may see our selves in a Storm, that calls for the Help of every man aboard. Never did my distressed Countrey more want the Service of all that are in the least capacity to Do for us, than At such a time as this! Behold therefore one little Sermon more sent abroad for the Direction and Encouragement of us all, to Do all we can for the Service of a People which is well worthy of our All. I now take no further care about it, but Recommend it unto the Blessing of Him, who is the Hope of New-England, and the Saviour thereof in the Time of Trouble.
Cotton Mat…r