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to the doing of it, but makes the doing of it a duty." On this maxim he determined to act, and continued to do so throughout his whole life.

In the execution of this noble design, he began in his father's family, to do all the good in his power to his brothers, his sisters, and the servants. He imposed on himself a rule, never to enter any company, where it was proper for him to speak, without endeavouring to be useful in it; and in doing this, he found that promise fulfilled, "to him that hath shall be given;" for on the faithful improvement of his talents, his opportunities of usefulness were gradually increased, till he beeame a blessing to whole churches, towns, and countries.

In the management of his very numerous affairs, he was a man of uncommon dispatch and activity; but he was obliged to improve every moment of his time; and that he might not suffer by impertinent and tedious visitors, he wrote over his studydoor in large letters, BE SHORT.

The writer of his life, Mr. Samuel Mather, his son, gives us the following specimen of his surprising activity, in the review of a single year; in the course of which, he preached seventytwo public sermons, and about half that number in private. Not a day passed without some contrivance to do good, which he registered; beside many, probably, not noticed in his diary. Not a day passed, without his being able to say at the close of it, that some part of his income had been distributed for pious purposes. lie prepared and published, in this year, about 14 books; and kept 62 fasts, and 22 vigils.

When he was about nineteen, he was chosen, co-pastor with his father; from which time, till his death, he continued a laborious, zealous, and useful minister of the glorious gospel. He continued also a close and diligent student, acquiring a prodigious fund of the most valuable knowledge; and that his usefulness might extend beyond the limits of his own country, he learned the French and Spanish languages, and in his 45th year took the pains to acquire a knowledge of the Indian (Iroquois) tongue, in each of which he published useful treatises.

The greatest genius in the world would have found it impossible to effect so much, without a sacred regard to method; in this Dr. Mather was studiously exact. That all his pursuits might have their proper places, he used to propose to himself a certain question in the morning of every day, in the following order:

Sabbath morning. What shall I do, as a pastor of a church, for the good of the flock under my charge?

Monday. What shall I do in my family, and for the good of it?

Tuesday. What shall I do for my relations abroad? Wednesday. What shall I do for the churches of the Lord, and the more general interest of religion in the world?

Thursday. What good may I do in the several societies to which I belong?

Friday. What special subjects of affliction, and objects of compassion, may I take under my particular care, and what shall I do for them?

Saturday. What more have I to do for the interest of God, in my own heart and life?

By this careful observation of method, by the readiness of his invention, and his peculiar celerity in the dispatch of business, he was enabled not only to perform all the duties of the pastoral office, and to assist in the formation and support of numerous societies, but also to compose an uncommon number of books. His biographer gives us a catalogue of no less than 382. Some of these were indeed small, but others were considerable in size, and some voluminous, particularly his famous work, "Magnalia Christi Americana," or "The Ecclesiastical History of New-England;" beside which, and other large treatises which he published, he made very copious preparations for his "American Bible :" in this great labour he was engaged for 50 years; but we apprehend that it was never published.*

In addition to his other engagements, he kept up a literary correspondence with eminent men in various countries, among whom were Mr. Waller, Dr. Chamberlain, Dr. Woodward, Dr. Jurin, Professor Frank, Lord Chancellor King, Dr. Whiston, Dr. Desaguliers, Sir Richard Blakemore, Dr. Watts, and many others.

After a life of singular piety and activity, he was taken ill at the close of Doc. 1727; when he felt a strong persuasion that his sickness would be unto death, and told his physician so. The grand desire of his heart was, that "his own will might be entirely swallowed up in the will of God." At that time he had some things in hand, which he would gladly have lived to finish; but, said he, "I desire to have no will of my own.' When the physician intimated his apprehensions of the fatal issue of his disorder, he immediately said, lifting up his hands and eyes, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven !" and, a few hours before his departure, said, "Now I have nothing more to do here; my will is entirely swallowed up in the will of God." He frequently expressed the good hope he enjoyed

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*The Publishers of this Edition have ascertained, that "The Biblia Americana" was never published. It was too large a work to print, at that time, in New-England. The dissenting ministers of London, who corresponded with Dr. Mather, were desirous to have it published on that side of the Atlantic, but did not succeed in gaining a subscription.

The manuscript, written in a fair, legible hand, is deposited in the Massachusetts Historical Library.

"that he was going to eat the bread and drink the water of life freely; that all tears would be soon wiped from his eyes; that it was impossible he should be lost; and that his views of the heavenly world were glorious." He had a hard cough, an asthma, and fever; yet he felt but little pain; was favoured with sweet composure of mind; and obtained an easy dismission from the body: blessings which he had often prayed for with great fervency. He died Feb. 13, 1728, having just completed his 65th year.

Such a life, and such a death, will afford to the serious reader a powerful recommendation of the following pages. The proposals for doing good, which they present, are not the idle speculations of an ingenious theorist, but the faithful transcript. of a holy life. The author, by reducing them to practice, has demonstrated their practicability to others; and encourages every individual reader, whatever be his share of capacity, or the sphere in which he moves, to believe that he may do some good in the world, if he be so disposed.

The late celebrated Dr. Franklin, who, when a youth, had the privilege of being acquainted with Dr. Mather, considered himself under the greatest obligations to his instruction and example; and though we cannot conclude that Dr. Franklin concurred with him in his evangelical views, yet he was certainly a philanthropist and a philosopher. The testimony, which he bore to the excellence of this little volume, will enhance its value in the estimation of many of its readers. That renowned statesman informs us, that all the good he ever did to his country, or to mankind, he owed to a small book which he accidentally met with, 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.*

*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 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 through life;

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ed friend,* and the whole adapted to more

ess.

nly adds, that it will afford peculiar delight to reader to find, as he peruses the following pages, nose. public schemes of usefulness, which were e author, a century ago, have, within these few ommended, adopted and carried into effect in happy country; and every year gladdens our establishment of some new Institution; some do good." May the God of all goodness smile pt to promote his glory, by promoting the happieatures! Much yet remains to be done; and sal of this little volume tend to raise the holy olent zeal in the hearts of sincere Christians, or s operations, it will afford a rich recompense for

ril 27, 1807.

THE EDITOR.

ys set a greater value on the character of a don any other kind of reputation; and if I have eem to think, a useful citizen, the public owes of it to that book."

.

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

the present Edition the translations are generalthe text, and the Latin preserved in the marginal

PREFACE.

AMONG 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 authors aim 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 whe 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 noth

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