The Religious Regards We Owe to Our Country, Half title – Dedication
Mr. COLMANS ELECTION SERMON On Wedneſday, May 28th. 1718.
Maſſachuſetts. At a COUNCIL held in the Council Chamber in Boſton, upon Thurſday May 29. 1718.
Ordered, THAT PENN TOWNSEND and ADDINGTON DAVENPORT Eſqrs; give the Thanks of the Board to the Reverend Mr. BENJAMIN COLMAN for his Sermon preached Yeſterday before the GENERAL ASSEMBLY, and deſire a Copy thereof in order to its being Printed.
J. WILLARD Secr.
The Religious Regards we owe to our COUNTRY, and the Bleſſing of Heaven aſſured thereunto.
A SERMON Preached before His Excellency SAMUEL SHUTE Eſq His MAJESTY's COUNCIL, and the ASSEMBLY of the PROVINCE of the Maſſachuſetts-Bay in NEW-ENGLAND, May 28. 1718.
Being the Day for the ELECTION of His Majeſty's Council there.
By BENJAMIN COLMAN A. M. Paſtor of a Church in Boſton.
Nec ſibi, ſed toti natum ſe credere Mundo
BOSTON in N. E. Printed by B Green, Printer to His Excellency the GOVERNOUR and COUNCIL. 1718.
To the Honourable Sir WILLIAM ASHURST-Kt. AND JOHN BARRINGTON SHUTE Eſq
HAVING in the following Diſcourſe preſumed to mention your Honourable Names, as diſtinguiſh'd among the Generous Friends and Patrons of my dear Country, to whom ſhould I now Inſcribe it but to Your Selves, if indeed it may be ſeemly and excuſable to tender You ſuch a mite of reſpect and gratitude.
THE Subject is ſuch as muſt needs be acceptable to worthy and Superior Perſons, born and rais'd for the good of others, whoſe Ambition it is to be extenſive Bleſſings to the World, and who like the Orbs of Light that roll over us are diſpenſing their benign Influences to diſtant Regions.
GRATITUDE to our Benefactors is one of the firſt points of Juſtice and Honeſty: But if a private Benefit and perſonal Obligation demand a moſt grateful Acknowledgment, how much more thoſe of a common and publick nature to a People; which like the light and rain of Heaven are of unknown extent, and of ineſtimable price.
I OWE this Duty therefore to my Country, to render You the beſt and moſt public Thanks I am able for all the Services and Benefits You have done it, and to ask your continued kind concern on all Occaſions for a PROVINCE, whoſe diſtinguiſhing Loyalty and dutiful Affection to the KING's moſt Excellent Majeſty, and the Proteſtant Succeſſion in His Illuſtrious HOUSE, has already commended it unto your juſt and noble Regards.
I hope You will have the Prayers of an Obliged pious People, and that their GOD will think upon You for Good according to all that you have done, or may yet do for them; and which is much more, according to all you may have done, or ſhall do, for the Religious and Civil Intereſts of GREAT BRITAIN, where it has pleaſed the DIVINE PROVIDENCE to make You ſome of the Ornaments and Bleſſings of your Age.
THAT You may ſtill live ſo, is the Prayer of
GENTLEMEN Your moſt Humble Obliged and Obedient Servant Benjamin Colman. Boſton in New-England, June 4. 1718.