A26939:104
How to do good to many, or, The public good is the Christians life…How to do good to many, or, The publick good is the Christians life…
How to do good to many, or, The public good is the Christians life directions and motives to it, intended for an auditory of London citizens, and published for them, for want of leave to preach them / by Richard Baxter.How to do good to many, or, The publick good is the Christians life directions and motives to it, intended for an auditory of London citizens, and published for them, for want of leave to preach them / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Rob. Gibs, 1682
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.
If men that in life, or at death, give a stated revenue for good works, would settle the one half on a Catechizing English School, and the other half on some suitable good books, it may prove a very, great means of public reformation. When a good book is in the House, if some despise it, others may read it, and when one Parish is provided, every years rent may extend the Charity to other Parishes, and it may spread over a whole Country in a little time. Most of the good that God hath done for me, for knowledge or Conscience hath been by sound and pious books.
If men that in life, or at death, give a stated revenue for good works, would settle the one half on a Catechizing English School, and the other half on some sutable good books, it may prove a very, great means of publick reformation. When a good book is in the House, if some despise it, others may read it, and when one Parish is provided, every years rent may extend the Charity to other Parishes, and it may spread over a whole Country in a little time. Most of the good that God hath done for me, for knowledge or Conscience hath been by sound and pious books.
III. A great means of public good is the right ordering of Families all the week, but especially on the Lords day: Tho the Ministry be the usual means of Converting Heathens and Infidels, Christian Education by Parents, is the first means appointed by God for the holy principling of youth: Parents must teach them with unwearied diligence, lying down and rising up, Deut. 6. 11. And they that will expect Gods blessing, must use his appointed means. Nature teacheth men and brutes to provide for their off-spring with diligence and patience: And as Grace teacheth believers to expect far greater things for themselves and their Children, than this world affordeth, so it obligeth them to be at so much greater diligence to obtain it. An everlasting Kingdom deserveth more labour than a trade of full estate for the flesh. If all Parents did their parts to make their Children Sanctified Believers, as well as they expect the Schoolmaster should do his part to make them Scholars, and the Master do