N01223:13
Bonifacius. An essay upon the good, that is to be devised and designed, by…
Bonifacius. An essay upon the good, that is to be devised and designed, by those who desire to answer the great end of life, and to do good while they live. A book offered, first, in general, unto all Christians, in a personal capacity, or in a relative. Then more particularly, unto ministers, unto physicians, unto lawyers, unto schoolmasters [sic], unto wealthy gentlemen, unto several sorts of officers, unto churches, and unto all societies of a religious character and intention. With humble proposals, of unexceptionable methods, to do good in the world. : [Two lines from Ephesians]Bonifacius. An essay upon the good, that is to be devised and designed, by those who desire to answer the great end of life, and to do good while they live. A book offered, first, in general, unto all Christians, in a personal capacity, or in a relative. Then more particularly, unto ministers, unto physicians, unto lawyers, unto scholemasters [sic], unto wealthy gentlemen, unto several sorts of officers, unto churches, and unto all societies of a religious character and intention. With humble proposals, of unexceptionable methods, to do good in the world. : [Two lines from Ephesians]
printed by B. Green for Samuel Gerrish, 1710
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
The BOOK requires that now some Account be given of it. It was a Passage, in a Speech of an Envoy from His Britannic Majesty, to the ⟨p. v⟩Duke of Brandenburg Twenty years ago; A Capacity to Do Good, not only gives a Title to it, but also makes the doing of it a Duty. Ink were too vile a Liquor to Write that Passage. Letters of Gold were too Mean, to be the Preservers of it. Paper of Amianthus would not be Precious and Perennous enough, to perpetuate it.
The BOOK requires that now some Account be given of it. It was a Passage, in a Speech of an Envoy from His Britanick Majesty, to the ⟨p. v⟩Duke of Brandenburgh Twenty years ago; A Capacity to Do Good, not only gives a Title to it, but also makes the doing of it a Duty. Ink were too vile a Liquor to Write that Passage. Letters of Gold were too Mean, to be the Preservers of it. Paper of Amyanthus would not be Precious and Perennous enough, to perpetuate it.
To be brief, Reader, The Book now in thy Hands, is nothing but an Illustration, and a Prosecution of that Memorable Sentence. As Gold is capable of a Wonderful Dilatation; Experiment has told us, it may be so dilated, that the Hundred thousandth part of a Grain, may be visible without a Microscope: This Golden Sentence may be as much Extended; no man can say how much. This Book is but a Beating upon it. And at the same time, 'tis a Commentary on that Inspired Maxim, Gal. VI. 10. As we have Opportunity, let us do Good unto all men: Every Proposal here made upon it hopes to be able to say, When I am tried, I shall come forth as Gold.