I know the General Assembly, out of their regard to the
interest of Christ, will take care to prevent it." [Footnote: _History of
Harvard_, i. 501, App. xvii.] Yet though he himself begged the legislature
to select his successor, in his inordinate vanity he did not dream of
being taken at his word; so when he was invited to meet both houses in the
council chamber he explained with perfect cheerfulness how "he was now
removed from Cambridge to Boston, and ... did not think fitt to continue
his residence there, ... but, if the court thought fit to desire he should
continue his care of the colledge as formerly, he would do so." [Footnote:
_Court Records_, vii. 229.]
Increase Mather delighted to blazon himself as Christ's foremost champion
in the land. He predicted, and with reason, that should those who had been
already designated succeed him at Harvard, it would be fatal to that cause
to which his life was vowed. The alternative was presented of serving
himself or God, and to him it seemed unreasonable of his friends to expect
of him a choice. And yet when, as was his wont, he would describe himself
from the pulpit, as a refulgent beacon blazing before New England, he
would use such words as these: "Every ... one of a publick spirit ... will
deny himself as to his worldly interests, provided he may thereby promove
the welfare of his people.
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