N01223:169
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.
In operibus sit Abundantia mea; Divitijs per me Licet, abunde•, quisquis volnerit. Well Struck, Brave Melanchthon!
In operibus sit Abundantia mea; Divitijs per me Licet, abunde•, quisquis volnerit. Well Struck, Brave Melancthen!
'Tis to be hoped, That the Main Principle that acted you, when you first Entered upon the Evangelical Ministry, was, An Hope to do Good in the World. If that principle were then too feeble in its operation, 'tis Time that it should now operate, and that you should now Vigorously act upon it, and that the Zeal thereof should now Eat up your Time, your Thought, your All.
'Tis to be hoped, That the Main Principle that acted you, when you first Entred upon the Evangelical Ministry, was, An Hope to do Good in the World. If that principle were then too feeble in its operation, 'tis Time that it should now operate, and that you should now Vigorously act upon it, and that the Zeal thereof should now Eat up your Time, your Thought, your All.
That you may be Good Men, and be mightily Inspired and Assisted from Heaven to Do Good, it is needful that you should be Men of Prayer. I lay this down to be allowed, as my very First Postulatum! In the Pursuance of this Intention, there appears more than a little Need of it, That you should ever now and then Keep whole Days of Prayer, in an Holy Retirement before the Lord; Often Set apart, whole Days, for Prayer with Fasting, in Secret, and perfume your Studies with Devotions Extraordinary: and usually with a Mixture of Alms, to go up in the Memorial before the Lord. By such Days, you may obtain, with the Pardon of your Unfruitfulness, for which, alas, how often have we cause to repair unto the Great Sacrifice! — You may obtain, I say, a vast Improvement in Piety and Sanctity; which is, of how vast Consequence, to make an Useful Minister! Sanctify them […] (or for) thy Truth, says our Saviour. The should be Sanctified, that