A26939:90
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.
V. Another is the great neglect of Parents to prepare their Children to be profitable to the Commonwealth, but only to live in prosperity to themselves. 1. Children should be taught as much as may be, to become persons of understanding, and such wisdom as may make them useful. 2. And especially to be truly Religious: For then they will be devoted to do good, in love and obedience to God. 3. They should be taught what it is to be members of Societies, and what duty they owe to Church and State, and how great a part of their duty lieth in caring for the Common good, and how sinful and damnable it is to live only to themselves; and how much this selfishness is the sum ⟨p. 13⟩of all iniquity. 4. Those Callings should be chosen for them which they are fittest for, and in which they may do most public good.
V. Another is the great neglect of Parents to prepare their Children to be profitable to the Commonwealth, but only to live in prosperity to themselves. 1. Children should be taught as much as may be, to become persons of understanding, and such wisdom as may make them useful. 2. And especially to be truly Religious: For then they will be devoted to do good, in love and obedience to God. 3. They should be taught what it is to be members of Societies, and what duty they owe to Church and State, and how great a part of their duty lyeth in careing for the Common good, and how sinful and damnable it is to live only to themselves; and how much this selfishness is the sum ⟨p. 13⟩of all iniquity. 4. Those Callings should be chosen for them which they are fittest for, and in which they may do most publick good.
VI. And a timorous Cowardly disposition, is a great hinderance to public good: For such will be still for the self-saving way, and afraid of the dangers that attend the greatest duties: If they are called to Liberality, they will fear lest they should want themselves: In all costly or hazardous duty, there will still be a Lyon in their way. They cannot trust God, and no wonder then if they are not to be trusted themselves.