The Prevention of Poverty, Title page – Abstract
The Prevention of Poverty, Together with the Cure of Melancholy, Alias Discontent.
Or the best and surest way to Wealth and Happiness: being Subjects very seasonable for these Times; wherein all are Poor, or not pleased, or both; when they need be neither.
By Rich. Younge, of Roxwel in Essex, Florilegus.
Imprimatur Joseph Caryl.
LONDON page missingnted by R. & W. Leybourn, and are to be sold by James Crumpe, a Book-binder in Little Bartholomews Well-yard, 1655.
Of the Prevention of Poverty:
By R. Y.
VErtue is distributive, and loves not to bury benefits, but to pleasure all she can: And happy is he, that leaves such a president; for which both the present and future Ages shall praise him, and praise God for him. It was no small comfort (I suppose) to Cuthemberg, Anaximenes, Triptolemus, Columbus, and other the like; whose happiness it was to finde out Printing, the Dial, the Plough, to enrich the World with the best of Metals, with the Loadstone, and a thousand the like: But had they smothered their conceptions, as so many lights under a bushel; and not communicated the same for the publick, it had argued in them a great dearth of charity; whereas now (to the glory of God,) all men are the better for them.
Nor is any employment so honorable, as for a man to serve his generation, and be profitable to many: When like the Moon, we bestow the benefits received from God; to the profit and commodity of others. It is the Suns excellency, that his bright rayes and beamns, are dispersed into every corner of the Universe.
The Tragick, Buskin (as they say) would fit all, that should put it on: Here is that will much benefit thee, (being made use of) be thy condition good or bad, rich or poor, learned or unlearned, mental or manual. The which to conceal, would argue in the Authour, either too much lucre, or too little love. Even the Physician, that hath a sovereigne Receipt, and dieth unrevealing it: robs the world of many blessings, which might multiply after his death: leaving to all survivers this collection, that he once did good to others, but to do himselfe a greater.
C. E.