To the Thinking and Publick-Spirited.

CHRISTIANITY mends, but marrs no mans good nature; it binding us to love our neighbour, and that love, to desire our country's prosperity. And from that love do I meditate the publick good, and publish these proposals I think tends to it; Believing there is many who would be glad to see the poor reformed in manners, and better provided for to live that will be willing to contribute their assistance with money, and advice towards it, when opportunity shall be offered them.

And therefore to such I propose a general subscription; which when considerable, and a meeting of the subscribers, there every one may have an opportunity of proposing any other useful thought they have, on this subject; (whereas private discourse, though never so good (is but like single sparks) comes to little) in order to draw up suitable rules and methods for such an undertaking; and by whom application may be made to the Government for encouraging of it, more

acceptable, and with more advantage, than from a single person.

J. B.

Such as are willing to set forward this undertaking, may enter their subscriptions with Edward Skeat, at William Reynolds's, goldsmith, at the Cup and Star near Fleet-bridge in Flect-street; or Herbert Springet, attorney, in George-yard in Lumbard-street, London.

THE

INTRODUCTION.

T's the interest of the rich to take care of the

IT I

poor,

and their education, by which they will take care of their own heirs: For as kingdoms and nations are subject to revolutions and changes, much more (and nothing commoner than) for private families to do so; and who knows how soon it may be his own lot, or his posterities, to fall poor? Is there any poor now, that some of their ancestors have not been rich? Or any rich now, that some of their ancestors have not been poor?

View the cities, towns, and counties in this nation, and see what alterations come in two or three generations in most families. Were above one in ten of the men now house-keepers in London, born there? And but few (in comparison of the multitude) that have gone out with estates: And what better is it with gentle, mens younger children, and the eldest also, many times.

There is three things I aim at: First, Profit for the rich, (which will be life to the rest.) Secondly, A plentiful living for the poor, without difficulty. Thirdly,

A good education for youth, that may tend to prepare their souls into the nature of the good ground.

However prevalent arguments of charity may be to some, when profit is joyned with it, it will raise most money, provide for most people, hold longest, and do most good for what sap is to a tree, that profit is to all business, by increasing and keeping it alive; so employing the poor, excells the barren keeping them; in the first, the increase of the poor is no burthen, (but advantage) because their conveniencies increase with them; but in the latter, there is no strength or relief but what they have from others, who possibly may sometimes think they have little enough for themselves.

As a good and plentiful living must be the poor's encouragement; so their increase, the advantage of the rich; Without them, they cannot be rich; for if one had a hundred thousand acres of land, and as many pounds in money, and as many cattle, without a labourer, what would the rich man be, but a labourer? And as the labourers make men rich, so the more labourers, there will be the more rich men (where there is land to employ and provide for them). Therefore I think it the interest of the rich to encourage the honest labourers marrying at full age; but by the want of it, it seems to ine the world is out of frame, and not understanding its own interest. The labour of the poor being the mines of the rich,

For is it not strange to consider how industrious the world is, to raise corn and cattle, which only serves men, and how negligent of (or rather careful to hinder)

the increase of men, who are a thousand times better (than beasts) being to serve God? Do not men greatly reproach their Maker, as if he had chosen the uselessest part of the creation to serve him, whilst men think them the least worth their while to raise ?

But they that provide food for the poor, lend to the Lord, who is the best pay-master; and if an industrious raising of corn and cattle (mean things) is commendable in a husbandman, how much more is the putting mankind into a comfortable way of living, which will be instrumental in God's hand in finishing his creation (man being the head of it) by providing for the increase of their posterity, which joyned with a good education, they may prove in the ages to come, both good and great in this world, and as angels in the next: For as ground that bringeth forth the grossest weeds, may by good culture and seed, bring forth excellent corn, so we may hope as great a change may be made by good instruction and example among the worst of men, at least of their stock.

Therefore how worthy is it to provide a good education and employ for the poor, the breeding poor children with industry and temperance, will make the next age as happy in their service, as this age is un happy in their parents' vices, for which reason their children had need of better tutors; considering how many, for want of it, comes to be miserable and vagabonds, and continue so for many generations, from father to son?

This colledge-fellowship will make labour, and not