The Essays of Cotton Mather essays are academic essays for citation. A leading theorist was the Puritan theologian Cotton Mather (–), who in published a widely read essay, Bonifacius, or an Essay to Do Good. It is a book offered, first, in general, unto all Christians, in a personal capacity, or in a relative Dec 31, · Dec 31, · First edition, Boston, , published under title: Bonifacius: an essay upon the good, that is to be devised and designed, by those who desire to answer the great end of life.. Notes This book has pages that turned sepia, the ink has somewhat faded ESSAYS TO DO GOOD, him as any other than one by whom humanity itself is debased and blemished. A verv wick- cd writer has yet found himself compelled, by the force of retuqon, to publish {his conlession: To love the public; to study the universal good; and to promote the interest of the whole v..c,rid, as far as it is in our power, is surely (he
Bonifacius: An Essay to Do Good (Classic Reprint): Mather, Cotton: blogger.com: Books
Benjamin confessed that he was the author, which seems to have annoyed his older brother. The first issue of the New England Courant, August This was a publication I had never seen.
I bought the volume, and read it again and again. I was enchanted with it, thought the style excellent, and wished it were in my power to imitate it. With this view I selected some of the papers, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather, made short summaries of the ſenſe of each period, and put them for a few days aside. I then, without looking at the book, endeavoured to restore the essays to their true form, and to express each thought at length, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather it was in the original, employing the most appropriate words that occurred to my mind.
I afterwards compared my Spectator with the original; I perceived some faults, which I corrected. Spectator invented by Addison and Steele. The startling thing about the Silence Dogood essays in addition to the fact that they were written by a sixteen-year-oldis that Franklin adopts the persona of a woman, a persona that enables him adopt, but also gently mock, the kinds of sentiments expressed by authority figures like Mather. Franklin would continue to use personae, male and female, throughout his career, the most famous of these being the Poor Richard of his Almanack.
There were fourteen Silence Dogood essays in all, published every two weeks in the pages of the New England Courant, for which, as we have seen, James Franklin was the publisher. The New England Courant was the first independently-published newspaper in colonial America; that is, it operated independently of government authority.
So much so that the colonial government in Massachusetts frequently attempted to censor the newspaper and jailed James Franklin several times when he published articles that were thought to defame public o fficials Cotton Mather, for example. During these periods, Benjamin was listed as the official publisher of the newspaper.
It was finally closed for good in ; Benjamin had long since moved on, and was at this point finishing a stint as a journeyman printer in London, preparing to return to Philadelphia, where he opened a print shop of his own. Our text is derived from the text at ushistory. To see the original pages of the New-England Courant in which the essays were published, go here. April 2, [No.
It may not be improper in the first place to inform your Readers, that I intend once a Fortnight to present them, by the Help of this Paper, with a short Epistle, which I presume will add somewhat to their Entertainment. At the time of my Birth, my Parents were bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather Ship-board in their Way from London to N.
Thus, was the first Day which I saw, the last that was seen by my Father; and thus was my disconsolate Mother bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather once made both a Parent and a Widow. When we arrived at Boston which was not long after I was put to Nurse in a Country Place, at a small Distance from the Town, where I went to School, and past my Infancy and Childhood in Vanity and Idleness, until I was bound out Apprentice, that I might no longer be a Charge to my Indigent Mother, who was put to hard Shifts for a Living, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather.
Thus I past away the Time with a Mixture of Profit and Pleasure, having no affliction but what was imaginary, and created in my own Fancy; as nothing is more common with us Women, than to be grieving for nothing, when we have nothing else to grieve for.
As I would not engross too much of your Paper at once, I will defer the Remainder of my Story until my next Letter; in the mean time desiring your Readers to exercise their Patience, and bear with my Humours now and then, because I shall trouble them but seldom. I am not insensible of the Impossibility of pleasing all, but I would not willingly displease any; and for those who will take Offence were none is intended, they are beneath the Notice of Your Humble Servant.
To the Author of the New-England Courant. Histories of Lives are seldom entertaining, unless they contain something either admirable or exemplar: And since there is little or nothing of this Nature in my own Adventures, I will not tire your Readers with tedious Bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather of no Consequence, but will briefly, and in as few Words as possible, relate the most material Occurrences of my Life, and according to my Promise, confine all to this Letter.
As he had been a great Benefactor and in a Manner a Father to me I could not well deny his Request, when I once perceived he was in earnest.
Whether it was Love, or Gratitude, or Pride, or all Three that made me consent, I know not; but it is certain, he found it no hard Matter, by the Help of his Rhetorick, to conquer my Heart, and perswade me to marry him. This unexpected Match was very astonishing to all the Country round about, and served to furnish them with Discourse for a long Time after; some approving it, others disliking it, as they were led by their various Fancies and Inclinations.
We lived happily together in the Heighth of conjugal Love and mutual Endearments, for near Seven Years, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather which Time we added Two likely Girls and a Boy to the Family of the Dogoods: But alas! At present I pass away my leisure Hours in Conversation, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather, either with my honest Neighbour Rusticus and his Family, or with the ingenious Minister of our Town, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather, who now lodges at my House, and by whose Assistance I intend now and then to beautify my Writings with a Sentence or two in the learned Languages, which will not only be fashionable, and pleasing to those who do not understand it, but will likewise be very ornamental.
I shall conclude this with my own Character, which one would think I should be best able to give. Know then, That I am an Enemy to Vice, and a Friend to Vertue. I am one of an extensive Charity, and a great Forgiver of private Injuries: A hearty Lover of the Clergy and all good Men, and a mortal Enemy to arbitrary Government and unlimited Power.
I am naturally very jealous for the Rights and Liberties of my Country; and the least appearance of an Incroachment on those invaluable Priviledges, is apt to make my Blood boil exceedingly. I have likewise a natural Inclination to observe and reprove the Faults of others, at which I have an excellent Faculty. I speak this by Way of Warning to all such whose Offences shall come under my Cognizance, for I never intend to wrap my Talent in a Napkin. It is undoubtedly the Duty of all Persons to serve the Country they live in, according to their Abilities; yet I sincerely acknowledge, that I have hitherto been very deficient in this Particular; whether it was for want of Will or Opportunity, I will not at present stand to determine: Let it suffice, that I now take up a Resolution, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather do for the future bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather that lies in my Way for the Service of my Countrymen.
I have from my Youth been indefatigably studious to gain and treasure up in my Mind all useful and desireable Knowledge, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather, especially such as tends to improve the Mind, and enlarge the Understanding: And as I have found it very beneficial to me, I am not without Hopes, that communicating my small Stock in this Manner, by Peace-meal to the Publick, may be at least in some Measure useful. I am very sensible that it is impossible for me, or indeed any one Writer to please all Readers at once.
Bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather Persons have different Sentiments; and that which is pleasant and delightful to one, gives another a Disgust. He that would in this Way of Writing please all, is under a Necessity to make his Themes almost as numerous as his Letters.
He must one while be merry and diverting, then more solid and serious; one while sharp and satyrical, then to mollify that be sober and religious; at one Time let the Subject be Politicks, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather, then let the next Theme be Love: Thus will every one, one Time or other find some thing agreeable to his own Fancy, and in his Turn be delighted.
According to this Method I intend to proceed, bestowing now and then a bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather gentle Reproofs on those who deserve them, not forgetting at the same time to applaud those whose Actions merit Commendation. And here I must not forget to invite the ingenious Part of your Readers, particularly those of my own Sex to enter into a Correspondence with me, assuring them, that their Condescension in this Particular shall be received as a Favour, and accordingly acknowledged.
An sum etiam nunc vel Graecè loqui vel Latinè docendus? These Words of Clericus gave me a Curiosity to inquire a little more strictly into the present Circumstances of that famous Seminary of Learning; but the Information which he gave me, was neither pleasant, nor such as I expected. At length I entred upon a spacious Plain, in the Midst of which was erected a large and stately Edifice: It was to this that a great Company of Youths from all Parts of the Country were going; so stepping in among the Crowd, I passed on with them, and presently arrived at the Gate.
In the Middle of the great Hall stood a stately and magnificent Throne, which was ascended to by two high and difficult Steps. On the Top of it sat Learning in awful State; she was apparelled wholly in Black, and surrounded almost on every Side with innumerable Volumes in all Languages. Now I observed, that the whole Tribe who entred into the Temple with me, began to climb the Throne; but the Work proving troublesome and difficult to most of them, they withdrew their Hands from the Plow, and contented themselves to sit at the Foot, with Madam Idleness and her Maid Ignorance, until those who were assisted by Diligence and a docible Temper, had well nigh got up the first Step: But the Time drawing nigh in which they could no way avoid ascending, they were fain to crave the Assistance of those who had got up before them, and who, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather, for the Reward perhaps of a Pint of Milk, or a Piece of Plumb-Cake, lent the Lubbers a helping Hand, and sat them in the Eye of the World, upon a Level with themselves.
I remain, Sir, Your Humble Servant. Mulier Mulieri magis congruet. wrongfully, inasmuch as the Men have not only as great a Share in those Vices as the Women, but are likewise in a great Measure the Cause of that bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather the Women are guilty of. I think it will be best to produce my Antagonist, before I encounter him. Here is a large Field that wants Cultivation, and which I believe you are able if willing to improve with Advantage; and when you have once reformed the Women, you will find it a much easier Task to reform the Men, because Women are the prime Causes of a great many Male Enormities.
This is all at present from Your Friendly Wellwisher. After Thanks to my Correspondent for his Kindness in cutting out Work for me, I must assure him, that I find it a very difficult Matter to reprove Women separate from the Men; for what Vice is there in which the Men have not as great a Share as the Women?
And if they have, then it bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather, that when a Vice is to be reproved, Men, who are most culpable, deserve the most Reprehension, and certainly therefore, ought to have it.
But we will wave this Point at present, and proceed to a particular Consideration of what my Correspondent calls Female Vice. As for Idleness, if I should Quaere, Where are the greatest Number of its Votaries to be found, with us or the Men? But however, Suppose we should grant for once, that we are generally more idle than the Men, without making any Allowance for the Weakness of the Sex, I desire to know whose Fault it is?
Are not the Men to blame for their Folly in maintaining us in Idleness? Who is there that can be handsomely Supported in Affluence, Ease and Pleasure by another, that will chuse rather to earn his Bread by the Sweat of his own Brows? And if a Man will be so fond and so foolish, as to labour hard himself for a Livelihood, and suffer his Wife in the mean Time to sit in Ease and Idleness, let him not blame her if she does so, for it is in a great Measure his own Fault.
An ingenious Writer, having this Subject in Hand, has the following Words, wherein he lays the Fault wholly on the Men, for not allowing Women the Advantages of Education. We reproach the Sex every Day with Bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather and Impertinence, while I am confident, had they the Advantages of Education equal to us, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather, they would be guilty of less than our selves.
One would wonder indeed how it should happen that Women are conversible at all, since they are only beholding to natural Parts for all their Knowledge. Their Youth is spent to teach them to stitch and sew, or make Baubles: They are taught to read indeed, and perhaps to write their Names, or so; and that is the Heighth of a Womans Education.
And I would but ask any who slight the Sex for their Understanding, What is a Man a Gentleman, I mean good for that is taught no more? If Knowledge and Understanding had been useless Additions to the Sex, God Almighty would never have given them Capacities, for he made nothing Needless.
What has the Woman done to forfeit the Priviledge of being taught? Does she plague us with her Pride and Impertinence? Why did we not let her learn, that she might have had more Wit? So much for Female Ignorance and Folly, and now let us a little consider the Pride which my Correspondent thinks is intollerable. What shall we say in this Case! Why truly, if Women are proud, it is certainly owing to the Men still; for if they will be such Simpletons as to humble themselves at their Feet, and fill their credulous Ears with extravagant Praises of their Wit, Beauty, and other Accomplishments perhaps where there are none too, and when Women are by this Means perswaded that they are Something more than humane, what Wonder is it, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather, if they carry themselves haughtily, and live extravagantly.
Notwithstanding, I believe there are more Instances of extravagant Pride to be found among Men than among Women, and this Fault is certainly more hainous in the former than in the latter. Upon the whole, I conclude, that it will be impossible to lash any Vice, of which the Men are not equally guilty with the Women, and consequently deserve an equal if not a greater Share in the Censure. However, I exhort both to amend, where both are culpable, otherwise they may expect to be severely handled by Sir, Your Humble Servant.
Dogood has lately left her Seat in the Country, and come to Boston, where she intends to tarry for the Summer Season, in order to compleat her Observations of the present reigning Vices of the Town. Quem Dies videt veniens Superbum, Hunc Dies vidit fugiens jacentem. Even those who nourish it in themselves, hate to see it in others. The proud Man aspires after Nothing less than an unlimited Superiority over his Fellow-Creatures. He has made himself a King in Soliloquy ; fancies himself conquering the World; and the Inhabitants thereof consulting on proper Methods to acknowledge his Merit.
But this speculative Pride may be the Subject of another Letter: I shall at present confine my Thoughts to what we call Pride of Apparel. Pride goeth before Destruction, and a haughty Spirit before a Fall : And I remember my late Reverend Husband would often say upon this Text, That a Fall was the natural Consequence, as well as Punishment of Pride. Daily Experience is sufficient to evince the Truth of this Observation. Persons of small Fortune under the Dominion of this Vice, seldom consider their Inability to maintain themselves in it, but strive to imitate their Superiors in Estate, or Equals in Folly, until one Misfortune comes upon the Neck of another, and every Step they take is a Step backwards.
By striving to appear rich they become really poor, and deprive themselves of that Pity and Charity which is due to the humble poor Man, who is made so more immediately by Providence. This Pride of Apparel will appear the more foolish, if we consider, that those airy Mortals, who have no other Way of making themselves considerable but by gorgeous Apparel, draw after them Crowds of Imitators, who hate each other while they endeavour after a Similitude of Manners.
I cannot dismiss this Subject without some Observations on a particular Fashion now reigning among my own Sex, the most immodest and inconvenient of any the Art of Woman has invented, namely, that of Hoop-Petticoats. By these they are incommoded in their General and Particular Calling, and therefore they cannot answer the Ends of either necessary or ornamental Apparel. These monstrous topsy-turvy Mortar-Pieces, are neither fit for the Church, the Hall, or the Kitchen; and if a Number of them were well mounted on Noddles-Island, they would look more like Engines of War for bombarding the Town, than Ornaments of the Fair Sex, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather.
I am, Sir, Your Humble Servant. Give me the Muse, whose generous Force, Impatient of the Reins, bonifacius essays to do good by cotton mather, Pursues an unattempted Course, Breaks all the Criticks Iron Chains. Mehitebell Kitel, Wife of Mr.
Cotton Mather
, time: 3:09Bonifacius Essays To Do Good By Cotton Mather
Buy the selected items together. This item: Essays to Do Good by Cotton Mather Paperback $ In Stock. Ships from and sold by blogger.com FREE Shipping on orders over $ Details. An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (Hackett Classics) by John Locke Paperback $ In Stock.5/5(2) Dec 31, · Dec 31, · First edition, Boston, , published under title: Bonifacius: an essay upon the good, that is to be devised and designed, by those who desire to answer the great end of life.. Notes This book has pages that turned sepia, the ink has somewhat faded The surname “Dogood” also has a famous colonial writer in mind, in this case the prolific Boston cleric Cotton Mather, whose collection Bonifacius: or, Essays to Do Good, advocating the reader to undertake charitable works, Franklin also remembered as a book that had a great impact on him as a young man. The startling thing about the Silence Dogood essays (in
No comments:
Post a Comment