A26939:94
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.
2. The other sort of the Idle are rich, ungodly, worldly persons, who live as if God did give them plenty, for nothing but to pamper their own flesh, and feed their own and others sensuality: They think that persons of wealth and honour may lawfully spend their time in idleness: That is, in Sodoms sin, Ezek. 16. 49. As if God expected least where he giveth most. How little Conscience do many Lords and Ladies make of an Idle hour or life? when poor mens labour is such as tendeth to the Common good; the rich by Luxury, Sacrifice to the flesh the fruits of other mens endeavours; and instead of living in any profitable employment, devour that which thousands labour for.
It is not the toilsome drudgery of the vulgar, which we take to be all rich folks duty. But Idleness and unprofitableness is a sin in the richest: Any of them may find good work enough that's sit for them, if they be willing. Children, and Servants, and Friends, and Neighbours, and Tenants, have Souls and bodies which need their help. None can say, God found us no work to do. Or that God gave them more time or wealth than they had prosuable use for. Little do they think what it will be ere long, to reckon for all their Time and Estates, and to be Judged according to their works. And their own flesh often payeth dear for its ease and pleasure, by those pains and diseases which ⟨p. 15⟩God hath suited to their sins; and which usually shortens the Lives which they no better use; or snatch them away from that Time and Wealth, which they spent in preparing fuel for Hell, and food for the Worm that never dyeth.
V. But what is it that a man should do, that would do good to all or many? There are some Good Works which are of far greater tendency than others; to the good of many, some of them I will name to you.