ESSAYS TO DO GOOD; ADDRESSED To all Christians, WHETHER IN PUBLIC OR PRIVATE CAPACITIES. BY THE LATE COTTON MATHER, D. D. F. R, S. TO DO GOOD, AND TO COMMUNICATE, FORGET NOT. Heb. xiii, 16. A NEW EDITION, IMPROVED, BY GEORGE BURDER. LONDON: PRINTED FOR WILLIAMS AND SON, STATIONERS' COURT; The diligence of wicked men in doing evil On seeking opportunities to do good *On doing good to our relations, children, &c. Proposals to the ministers of the Gospel Directions for pastoral visits Societies for the reformation of manners A catalogue of desirable things v-xii 1 17 18 20 25 ... 28 34 37 ...... 43 58 62 69 70 73 76 83 92 97 100 108 118 127 THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. 66 THE following Essays were first published by Dr. Cotton Mather, at Boston in New England, in the year 1710. The design of the author is thus expressed in his title-page-" 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 Ma gistrates- Ministers- Physicians Lawyers "Schoolmasters--Gentlemen--Officers---Churches, "and unto all Societies of a religious character "and intention: with humble Proposals of unex"ceptionable methods to Do Good in the world." In the present Edition, this title is abridged, and the Running Tille, used by the author in the original work, is substituted-ESSAYS TO DO GOOD. which the reader may understand to signify"Attempts to do good," which was probably the author's intention in the use of that phrase; or, he may consider this little volume as composed of "A Set of Essays" on the noble subject of doing good in this present evil world. The various methods of doing good, here proposed to the public, derive no small recommendation from the example of the excellent author, whose whole life was a practical comment on the |