The Bostonian Ebenezer. Some historical remarks, on the state of Boston, the chief town…

I remember, I have Read, That an Inhabitant of the City Pisa, being asked, Why their Town so went, as it then did, unto Decay, he fetched a deep sigh, and said, Our young men are too prodigal, our old men are too Affectionate, and we have no punishment for those that spend their years in Idleness. Ah, The last stroke of that complaint, I must here ⟨p. 37⟩Sigh it over again. Idleness, alas, Idleness, increases in the Town exceedingly: Idleness, of which there never came any Goodness; Idleness, which is a Reproach to any people. We work hard, all Summer, and the Drones count themselves wronged, if they have it not in the Winter divided among them. The Poor that can't Work, are Objects for your Liberality. But the Poor, that can Work and won't, the best Liberality to them, is to make them. I beseech you, Sirs, Find out a method quickly, That the Idle persons in the Town, may Earn their Bread; It were the best piece of Charity, that could be shown unto them, and Equity, unto us all. Our Beggars, do shamefully grow upon us, and such Beggars too, as our Lord Jesus Christ Himself hath Expressly forbidden us to countenance. I have Read a printed Sermon, which was Preached before Both Houses of Parliament, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, and the Assembly of Divines; the Greatest Audience then in the World: And in that Sermon, the Preacher had this passage; I have Lived in a Country, where, in seven years, I never ⟨p. 38⟩saw a Beggar, nor heard an Oath, nor looked upon a Drunkard. Shall I tell you where that Utopia was? 'Twas NEW-ENGLAND! But they that go from hence, must now tell another Story.

I remember, I have Read, That an Inhabitant of the City Pisa, being asked, Why their Town so went, as it then did, unto Decay, he fetched a deep sigh, and said, Our young men are too prodigal, our old men are too Affectionate, and we have no punishment for those that spend their years in Idleness. Ah, The last stroak of that complaint, I must here ⟨p. 37⟩Sigh it over again. Idleness, alas, Idleness, increases in the Town exceedingly: Idleness, of which there never came any Goodness; Idleness, which is a Reproach to any people. We work hard, all Summer, and the Drones count themselves wrong'd, if they have it not in the Winter divided among them. The Poor that can't Work, are Objects for your Liberality. But the Poor, that can Work and won't, the best Liberality to them, is to make them. I beseech you, Syrs, Find out a method quickly, That the Idle persons in the Town, may Earn their Bread; It were the best piece of Charity, that could be shown unto them, and Equity, unto us all. Our Beggars, do shamefully grow upon us, and such Beggars too, as our Lord Jesus Christ Himself hath Expresly forbidden us to countenance. I have Read a printed Sermon, which was Preached before Both Houses of Parliament, the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of London, and the Assembly of Divines; the Greatest Audience then in the World: And in that Sermon, the Preacher had this passage; I have Lived in a Countrey, where, in seven years, I never