entitled "Essays to do Good." This little book, he studied with care and attention, laid up the sentiments in his memory, and resolved, from that time, which was in his early youth, that he would make doing good the great purpose and business of his life*.

Those who are acquainted with the style of Dr. Mather, will readily allow that some alterations were necessary to render it agreeable to a modern reader. The Editor was obliged to change many quaint and obsolete words and phrases, for others more intelligible and pleasant; the Latin sentences were translated by a learned friend, and the whole adapted to more general usefulness.

The Editor only adds, that it will afford peculiar delight to the benevolent reader to find, as he peruses the following pages, that many of those public schemes of usefulness, which were projected by the author a century ago, have within these few years, been recommended, adopted and carried into effect in this free and happy country; and

* In a letter from Dr. Franklin to Dr. Mather, son of the Author, dated Passy (in France,) Nov. 10, 1779, we have the following paragraph.

Referring to a paper of Advice to the People of the United States, just published by Dr. M. he says,

"Such writings, though they may be lightly passed over by many "readers, yet, if they make a deep impression on one active mind "in a hundred, the effects may be considerable.

"Permit me to mention one little instance, which, though it "relates to myself, will not be quite uninteresting to you. When I 66 was a boy, I met with a book, entitled Essays to do good,' " which I think was written by your father. It had been so little "regarded by its former possessor, that several leaves of it were torn "out; but the remainder gave me such a turn of thinking, as to have "an influence on my conduct though life; for I have always set a "greater value on the character of a doer of good, than any other kind "of reputation; and if I have been, as you seem to think, a useful "citizen, the public owes the advantage of it to that book.”

Dr. Franklin's Works, vol, iii. page 478.

every year gladdens our heart with the establishment of some new Institution-some new" Essay to do Good." May the God of all goodness smile on every attempt to promote his glory, by promoting the happiness of his creatures! Much yet remains to be done; and should the perusal of this volume tend to raise the holy flame of benevolent zeal in the hearts of sincere Christians, or wisely direct its operations, it will afford a rich recompence for the labour of

THE EDITOR.

LONDON, April 27, 1807.

PREFACE.

AMONG MONG the many customs of the world, with which it is almost necessary to comply, this is one--That a book must not appear without a Preface :— and this little book willingly submits to the customary ceremony. It comes with a Preface: however it shall not be one like the gates of Mindus. But there is a greater difficulty in complying with another usage, that of "An Epistle Dedicatory." Dedications are become such foolish and fulsome adulations, that they are almost useless: Frequently they answer no other purpose than to furnish the critics on "The Manners of the Age," with matter of ridicule. The excellent Mr. Boyle employed but a just expression in saying, " It is almost as much out of fashion in such addresses to omit giving praises (I may say, unjust ones,) as it is to believe the praises given on such occasions." Sometimes the authors themselves live to see their own mistakes, and acknowledge them. Austin makes the flourishes which he had once used in a "Dedication," an article of his "Retractations:" and Calvin revokes a dedication, because he finds he had made it to an unworthy person. I may add, that at other times, every one perceives what the author aims at, and that, in fact, they write for themselves, while they flatter other men. Another. course must now be steered.

If a book of ESSAYS TO DO GOOD were to be dedicated to a person of quality, it should seek a patron

B

who is a true man of honour, and of uncommon goodness. Thy patron, O Book of Benefits to the World, should be a general and generous benefactor to mankind-one who never accounts himself so well advanced, as in stooping to do good-one whose highest ambition is to abound in serviceable condescensions:-a stranger to the gain of oppression the common refuge of the oppressed and the distressed ;-one who will know nothing that is base a lover of all good men in all persuasions; able to distinguish them, and loving them without any distinction. Let him also be one who has nobly stripped himself of emoluments and advantages, when they would have encumbered his opportunities to serve his country. Yea, presume upon one who has governed and adorned the greatest city on the face of the earth, and so much" the delight" of that city, as well as of the rest of mankind, that she shall never account her honour or welfare better consulted, than when he appears for her as a representative in the most illustrious assembly in the world.

In one word-A PUBLIC SPIRIT. Let him therefore, and on more than all these accounts be,

SIR WILLIAM ASHHURST.

For as of old the poet observed on mentioning the name of "Plutarch," that the echo, answered " Philosophy:" So now, A PUBlic Spirit will immediately be the echo in the sense of all men, and with a repetition more frequent than that at Pont-Chareton, if the name of Sir WILLIAM ASHHURST once be mentioned. He it is whom the confession of all men brings into the catalogue

with Abraham and Joseph, and those other ancient blessings, who are thus excellently described by Grotius: "Homines demerendis hominibus nati, qui omnem beneficii collocandi occasionem ponebant in lucro*." America afar off, also knows him; the American colonies have their eye on the efforts of his goodness for them. Nations of christianised Indians likewise pray for him, as their GOTo him, the design of such a book will be acceptable, whatever may be the defective man-. ner of treating its noble subject. To him it wishes. that all the blessings of those who devise good, may be for ever multiplied.

VERNOR.

I will presume to do something that will carry a sweet harmony with one of the chief methods to be observed in prosecuting the design of this book; which is, for "brethren to dwell together in unity," and carry on every good design with united endea

vours.

They will pardon me, if I take leave to join with him in the testimonies of our great esteem, for an honourable disposition to love good men, and to do good in the world, his excellent brotherin-law, the well-known name of a

JOSEPH THOMPSON.

has long been valued, and shall always he remembered, in the country where this book is published. God will be glorified for the piety which adorns him, and the pure religion," which, in the midst of the world and of temptations from it, keeps him so "unspotted from the world." It

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* Men born to serve mankind, who reckon it their greatest gain to have it in their power to do good.