"Essays to do Good; addressed to all Christians whether in public or private capacities," is a response to a world of second generation Puritans who had lost the grace and mercy of Christ, whom they sought, and was left only with the heart to impose strict punishments on any law violation. "Essays to do Good;" was a maxim with Mather “that the power and opportunity to do good, not only gives a right to the doing of it, but makes the doing of it a duty.”