The Piety and Duty of Rulers to Comfort and Encourage the Ministry of Christ, Title page – Dedication
THE Piety and Duty OF RULERS To Comfort and Encourage THE MINISTRY of CHRIST.
As it was repreſented in a SERMON at the Lecture in Boſton, before HIS EXCELLENCY and the GENERAL COURT, June 10th. 1708.
By BENJAMIN COLMAN M.A. Paſtor of a Church in Boſton.
Tibi DOMINE, Tibi maneat Gloria Illibata: Mecum bene Agitur, ſi Pacem habuero.
Bern.
BOSTON in N. E. Printed by B. Green: Sold by Benj … at his Shop under the Town-houſe, at the Head of King Street. 1708.
To the Honourable & Virtuous Lady, Mrs. REBECCA DUDLEY, Conſort to His Excellency, JOSEPH DUDLEY Eſq GOVERNOUR of New-England.
MADAM,
I Humbly crave leave to Prefix Your Honourable Name to theſe few Pages, which appear Publick at Your Deſire. Indeed I find that a juſt and neceſſary Vindication of my ſelf wou'd have conſtrain'd me to Publiſh the Diſcourſe; that the World may ſee how clear I ſtand either of Impudence or Flattery; the foul Characters that ſome have ſo unkindly and unreaſonably beſtow'd upon it. I fear not but the Impartial Reader will eaſily Acquit me, and juſtify the Sermon to be both Modeſt and Faithful. I have no little Reward in its being Eſteem'd ſo by the Government, and no body wou'd ſuſpect it poſſible to diſoblige the Miniſtry by this Affectionate reſpectful ſeeking their Comfort. My Single Aim was to this, and it was but ſtrict Juſtice to acknowledge the Piety of the Government, whereinſoever They Endeavour it.
Madam, Your Regard to the Miniſtry and Worſhip of CHRIST is not Suſpected: 'tis one Small Teſtimomy of it that You require this Publication: And if GOD ſhall pleaſe to comfort any of My Reverend Fathers or Brethren hereby, You will be ſure of the more of their deſir'd Prayers, as I ſhall of their Love and Bleſſing.
Madam, The Good GOD has in His Gracious Providence crown'd the long Trial of Your Faith and Patience, with many bright days ſince HIS EXCELLENCIES Return: W. juſtly admir'd Your Exemplary Reſignations before, and muſt own You to be the Same for a viſible Humility and Devotion ſince: Now that many more days of the Outward Smiles of Providence might be Your preſent Portion, if GOD pleaſe, but eſpecially a daily Growth in Grace, with a continual Advance in Communion with Heaven, and the Conſequent Eternal Glories thereof, is the Prayer of
Madam, Your moſt Humble and Faithful Servant, BENJ. COLMAN.