N01223:39
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.
§ 2. TIS to be Supposed, my Readers will readily grant, That it is an Excellent, a Virtuous, a Laudable Thing to be full of Devices, to bring about Such Noble Purposes. For any man to Deride, or to Despise my Proposal, That we Resolve and Study to Do as much Good in the World as we can, would be so black a Character, that I am not willing to make a Supposal of it in any of those with when I am Concerned. Let no man pretend unto the Name of, A Christian, who does not Approve the proposal of, A Perpetual Endeavour to Do Good in the ⟨p. 21⟩World. What pretension can Such a man have to be, A Follower of the Good One? The Primitive Christians gladly accepted and improved the Name, when the Pagans by a mistake Styled them, Chrestians; Because it Signified, Useful Ones. The Christians who have no Ambition to be So, Shall be condemned by the Pagans; among whom it was a Term of the Highest Honour, to be termed, A Benefactor; to have Done Good, was accounted Honourable. The Philosopher being asked why Every one desired so much to look upon a Fair Object! he answered, That it was a Question of a Blind man. If any man ask, as wanting the Sense of it, What is it worth the while to Do Good in the world! I must Say, It Sounds not like the Question of a Good man. The [Greek or Hebrew], as Origen calls it, the Spiritual Taste of every Good Man will make him have an unspeakable Relish for it. Yea, Unworthy to be discoursed as a Man, is he, who is not for, Doing of Good among Men. An Enemy to the Proposal, That mankind, may be the better for us, deserves to be Reckoned, little better than, A Common Enemy of Mankind. How Cogently do I bespeak, a Good Reception of what is now designed! I produce not only Religion, but even Humanity it self, as full of a Fiery Indignation against the Adversaries of the Design. Excuse me, Sirs; I declare, that if I could have my choice, I would never Eat or Drink, or Walk, with such an one, as long as I Live; or, Look on him as ⟨p. 22⟩any other than one by whom Humanity it self is Debased and Blemished. A very Wicked Writer, has yet found himself compelled by the Force of Reason, to publish this Confession. To Love the Public, to Study an Universal Good, and to Promote the Interest of the whole World, as far as is in our Power, is surely the Highest of Goodness, and makes that Temper, which we call Divine. And, he goes on.