N01223:65
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.
This then is the Next PROPOSAL. Without abridging your selves of your Occasional Thoughts on the Question, often every Day, What Good may I do? State a Time now and then for more Deliberate Thoughts upon it. Can't you find a Time, [Suppose, once a Week, yea, and how agreeably, on the Lord's Day,] to take that Question into your Consideration; What is there that I may do, for the Service of the Glorious Lord, and for the Welfare of those, for whom I ought to be Concerned? Having implored the Direction of God, who is the Father of Lights, and the Author and Giver of Good Thoughts, Consider on the matter, in the various Aspects of it. Consider till you have Resolved on something. The Resolutions which you take up, immediately write down. Examine what Precept and what Promise, you can find in the Word of God, that may Countenance the Intentions, in these your Memorials. Look over the Memorials at proper Seasons afterwards, to see how far you have Proceeded in the Execution of them. The Advantages of these Reserved and Revised Memorials, no Rhetoric will serve to Commend them, ⟨p. 42⟩no Arithmetic to Number them. There are some Animals, of whom we say, They do not know their own Strength. Christians, why should you be They?
This then is the Next PROPOSAL. Without abridging your selves of your Occasional Thoughts on the Question, often every Day, What Good may I do? State a Time now and then for more Deliberate Thoughts upon it. Can't you find a Time, [Suppose, once a Week, yea, and how agreeably, on the Lord's Day,] to take that Question into your Consideration; What is there that I may do, for the Service of the Glorious Lord, and for the Welfare of those, for whom I ought to be Concerned? Having implored the Direction of God, who is the Father of Lights, and the Author and Giver of Good Thoughts, Consider on the matter, in the various Aspects of it. Consider till you have Resolved on something. The Resolutions which you take up, immediately write down. Examine what Precept and what Promise, you can find in the Word of God, that may Countenance the Intentions, in these your Memorials. Look over the Memorials at proper Seasons afterwards, to see how far you have Proceeded in the Execution of them. The Advantages of these Reserved and Revised Memorials, no Rhetorick will serve to Commend them, ⟨p. 42⟩no Arithmetick to Number them. There are some Animals, of whom we say, They do not know their own Strength. Christians, why should you be They?