N01223:78
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.
Whole Days of Thanksgiving are to be kept, when the Favours of God rise to a more observable Height. Christians of the Finer Mould, keep their Private ones, their Secret ones, as well as bear their part in the Public. One Exercise for such a Day, is, To take a List of the more distinguishable Succours, and Bounties, wherewith our God has comforted us. And then, to contrive Some Notable Acknowledgements of the Glorious Lord, in Endeavours to Serve Him, and this by way of Gratitude for these Undeserved Comforts.
Whole Days of Thanksgiving are to be kept, when the Favours of God rise to a more observable Heighth. Christians of the Finer Mould, keep their Private ones, their Secret ones, as well as bear their part in the Publick. One Exercise for such a Day, is, To take a List of the more distinguishable Succours, and Bounties, wherewith our God has comforted us. And then, to contrive Some Notable Acknowledgments of the Glorious Lord, in Endeavours to Serve Him, and this by way of Gratitude for these Undeserved Comforts.
On the other hand. You meet with heavy and grievous Afflictions. Verily, Tis Pity to be at the Trouble of Suffering Afflictions, and not get Good by them. We get Good by them, when they awaken us to Do Good. I may say, Never till then! When God is Distributing Sorrows unto you, the Sorrows come still upon some Errands: The best way for you to find, that they do not come in His Anger, is for you to Mind the Errands. The Advice is, That when any Affliction comes upon you, You immediately consider, What Special Article of Repentance does this Affliction call me to? What Miscarriage does this Affliction find in me, to be Repented of? And then, while the sense of the Affliction is yet upon you, Solicitously ⟨p. 48⟩Consider, What Improvement in Godliness and Usefulness does this Affliction call me to? Be more Solicitous to Gain this point, than to Get out of your Affliction. Oh! the Peace that will compose and Possess and Ravish your Minds, when your Affliction shall be found yielding the Fruits of Righteousness!