N01223:130
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.
Tho' vile Constructions, and harsh Invectives, be never so much the Present Reward of doing the best Offices for the Neighbourhood, yet, my Dear Boniface; Be victorious over all Discouragements: Thy Work shall be well Rewarded, saith the Lord!
If your Opportunities to Do Good reach no further, yet I will offer you a Consolation, which One has Elegantly thus Expressed. He that Praises God only on a Ten-stringed Instrument, with his Authority Extending but unto his Family, and his Example but unto his Neighbourhood, may have as Thankful an heart here, and as high a Place in the ⟨p. 82⟩Celestial Choir hereafter, as the greatest Monarch, that Praiseth God upon a Ten thousand stringed Instrument. Upon the Loud sounding Organs, having as many Millions of Pipes as there be People under him.
If your Opportunities to Do Gcod reach no further, yet I will offer you a Consolation, which One has Elegantly thus Expressed. He that Praises God only on a Ten-stringed Instrument, with his Authority Extending but unto his Family, and his Example but unto his Neighbourhood, may have as Thankful an heart here, and as high a Place in the ⟨p. 82⟩Caelestial Choir hereafter, as the greatest Monarch, that Praiseth God upon a Ten thousand string'd Instrument. Upon the Loud sounding Organs, having as many Millions of Pipes as there be People under him.
§ 13. How can we leave the offices of Good Neighbourhood, without Interposing a PROPOSAL, To Animate and Regulate Private Meetings of Religious People, for the Exercises of Religion? It is very certain, That where such Private Meetings under a Good Conduct, have been kept Alive, the Christians which have Composed them, have like so many Coals of the Altar kept one another Alive, and kept up a lively Christianity in the Neighbourhood. Such Societies have been tried and strong Engines, to uphold the Power of Godliness. The Throwing up of such Societies, has been accompanied with a visible Decay of Godliness; the Less Love to them, the Less Use of them, there has been in a Place, the Less has Godliness flourished there; the Less there has been of, The Kingdom of God.