A Motion Tending to the Public Good of this Age and Posterity, Title page – Authors note
A MOTION TENDING TO THE PVBLICK GOOD OF This Age, and of Poſteritie.
OR The Coppies of certain Letters written by Mr. John Dury, to a worthy Knight, at his earneſt deſire.
Shewing briefly, VVhat a Publik good is, and how by the beſt means of Reformation in Learning and Religion it may be advanced to ſome perfection.
Publiſhed by Samuel Hartlib.
For the better Information of all thoſe who are willing of themſelves, or intruſted by others to ſet forward Pious and Learned Works.
Life is Deaths ſeed's time, Death lifes Harveſt, as here we ſow; ſo there we reape, as here we ſett, ſo there we gather of a bleſſed life, a death as blisfull.
Sir,
THe following diſcourſe is not ſo fully and accurately expreſſed as I could wiſh, for want of time, and by reaſon of manifold interruptions: but ſuch as it is, you will be pleaſed to make uſe of it. Perhaps to a pious ſoule that looketh to God, and his life, it may reliſh and worke ſome effect. The grace of God be with you, I reſt,
Sir, Your truly reſpective and moſt affectionate ſervant in Chriſt. Iohn Dury. London, the 30 of Decem. 1641.
A MOTION TENDING TO the publicke good of this Age and of Poſteritie.
NO man can do good to Poſterity, but he that doth know how to ſerve his own generation rightly. Nor can any man ſerve his owne generation as he ought, that knoweth not what his own felicity, and that of his generation is; and how it may be attained unto. For he that is deſtitute of this knowledge, can neither labour for himſelfe to become truly happy, nor can he reach forth the means of happineſſe unto others. For how can any impart unto another, that whereof he is not himſelfe participant? A man then that would ſet forward the Publique Good, muſt firſt know, what it is to be truly good? By what means goodneſſe is attained unto? and how it may be propagated unto his generation? Of theſe there, I purpoſe to diſcourſe a little, before I make the motion, which I intend to propoſe unto you.