The more Excellent Way: Or, A PROPOSAL of a Complete Work of Charity.  
For the Accommodation of some Devout Women, with such mean, but convenient Habitation, Work, Wages, and Relief, that they may have Time and Strength for the Worship of GOD, both in Public and Private, and Freedom of Mind for Meditation, and Religious Exercises, while their Hands are Employed for Maintenance of the Body; and that while they enjoy the Benefit of such Accommodations for their own Souls, their Benefactors, and the Church and Nation may be benefitted by their Constant Prayers.  
THe greatest part of the Works of Charity amongst us, are but of little more use than for mere Temporal Accommodations. The Reason is, Because there is neither any Limitation in the choice of the Persons, that they be indeed of the Household of Faith; that is, of known and approved Virtue, Piety, and Devotion; nor such Provision made, that they be effectually Instructed, Tutored, and, by sufficient Religious Exercises, trained up to be so, as far as Humane Means can avail. This is easy to be observed, not only in our Hospitals, but even in our Schools and Colleges, in our Universities, and in our Cathedrals. Not only in the World, but even in those Places Originally set apart for the Servants of God, it may be feared, the Devil, through the Carelessness and Inconsiderateness of Men, hath gotten too great a part. And this is not only a Shame to our Church and Nation, but a matter of much greater Mischief than is ordinarily observed, or can easily be imagined.  
Certain it is, that this Life, which is but short, and to us Mortals incertain, is but a Preparation to another of longer Duration. And, therefore, in our Foundations of this Nature, if we have not a Principal respect to that, that the Promotion of that be well provided for and secured, we lose the Principal and most Noble Part of our Charity. The rest, without it, is but a Provision for Brutes or Animals, if not worse—; but this is for Saints and young Angels.  
Tho it was much to be Wished, that we had such Accommodations for 
* The Author hath also considered how single Men might live together in a Religious Society, with several Advantages of Religious Exercises, good Convenience for Humane Life upon reasonable Terms, and yet follow their several Employments without any Hindrance, or loss of Time: But he had rather see a complete Number of Persons so disposed, to begin and give an Example of such a Society, than offer any more Proposals till he seethe the Success of this.  Men as well as for Women, who are well disposed; yet I think it most proper to begin with a Provision for Women, for divers Reasons. 

1. Because of that Sex we find most Devout People.  
2. Their Employments (for the most part) may better admit of Intermission for them to go out to Church twice a day.  
3. They do most need it; for whereas Men can ordinarily Earn 2 s. or 2 s. 6 d. per day, most Women cannot Earn above 6 d. or 4 d. or not so much.    
The Choice of Persons being well made, besides the Advantage of Leisure for the Worship of God, both in Public, and in their ordinary Religious Exercises together at Home, Care is to be taken that they be Instructed, and often Admonished, how to go on to Perfection, (Heb. 6.1.) Perfecting holiness in the Fear of God. (2 Cor. 7.1.) That they may stand perfect and complete in all the Will of God, (Col. 4.12.) And in every good Work: (Heb. 13.21.) How to Walk with God all the Day, continually, in all things: And how to Converse with others to their Edification, and to the Improvement of themselves. And being thus fitted and prepared, they may be employed upon Works of Charity to others, in Visiting the Sick and Needy, and carrying Alms and Relief where there may be occasion; and be made Blessed Instruments for spreading the Leven of the Kingdom of Christ.  
It may be farther improved to be a Seminary of Piety and Virtue, 
* And for the Education of Young Women in Religious Exercises of Devotion and Virtue.  for such single Persons as want no Accommodations of this World; and a most excellent Accommodation for Retirement and Repose for such as desire it, and want no other. And, therefore, though this be Proposed for such as Need, yet is there no Reason to exclude from Co-habitation with them, such other Devout Women as need not, provided they will be Conformable to the Orders of the House, and endeavour to promote so good a Work, by a Holy and Heavenly Example, (which may be of great Use) by their Purse and by their Pains, for the Assistance of those that Need. However, it is such a piece of Charity as is yet too rare amongst us.  
To be a Minister of the Divine Providence, in Provision of such Accommodations for such as Need, and would make so good use of them, is certainly an Excellent Work of Charity. We are Exhorted and Admonished by the Apostle, Gal. 6.10. While we have time, to do good unto all Men, and especially to them of the Household of Faith; and these certainly are such, if any. These are some of the choice Members of the Household of Faith; and this is the chiefest Good that we can do unto them, so set them free from the Necessities of this Life, to Serve the Lord. This is not to feed the Body, but to feed the Soul. This is indeed to lay up Treasure in Heaven, and to make us Friends there; to make the Favourites of Heaven upon Earth, and their Angels in Heaven our Friends; and the God of Heaven himself, if we do not otherwise offend him. The Administration of this Service, not only supplieth the Want of the Saints, but is abundant also by many Thanksgivings unto God. 2 Cor. 9.12. An Odour of a sweet Smell, a Sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing unto God. Phil. 4.18. And, certainly, to be constantly remembered among other Benefactors at the Altar of God upon Earth, in the fervent Prayers of Devout Christians, is a hopeful way, if there be nothing to interpose, to come in Remembrance for Good before the Throne of God in Heaven, by the Mediation of our Great High Priest there, who is always mindful of what is done to himself in his Saints & Servants here.  

Socrates Christianus: Or, Several Tracts and Papers, Written by the Author of this Proposal, (who in some of them used that Name) and Printed by his Order, since the Revolution.  
THE Author having begun a Religious Society of Single Women, according to the Design of the said Proposal, upon Presumption that there is yet so much Piety and Charity left in this City; and especially in this Sex, as not to suffer it to fall for want of Supplies; and being willing himself to contribute what he can thereunto, hath, among other things, dedicated to that Pious Work what Profit may be made either of such of his Writings which have been Printed, and remain in his Hands yet unsold, or of such others as he doth design for the Press: and therefore, for that Purpose, and for the Satisfaction of divers, who have desired Notes of what he hath Written since the Revolution, hath here added the Titles of them, in Order as they were Written and Published, as followeth:  

THE true English Government and Misgovernment of the Four last Reigns. 

1. A Preface to the KING.  
2. A Specimen of a Declaration against Debauchery.  
3. Important Questions upon the late Revolution.  
4. A Caveat against Flattery, and Profanation of Sacred things to Secular Ends. 1689.    
Of Humiliation, with a Postscript.  
An Admonition to the Magistrates, with an Appendix.  
Reflections upon the Occurrences of the last Year. 1689.  
An Apology for Mr. Stafford, with an Admonition, etc.  
Authority abused by the Vindication of the last Years Transactions. 1690.  
Considerations for Competitors, and Electors of Representatives in Parliament.  
A Relation of the late Action at Sea, (1690.) with Reflections thereupon; and a Letter to a Malefactor; and a Draught of an Act for Restraining notorious Sins, etc.  
Reasons for the Trial of the Earl of Torrington by Impeachment in Parliament.  
The Spirit of the Church Faction. 1691.  
An Admonition concerning a Public Fast. 1691.  
An Appeal to Heaven and Earth, etc. with Questions Theological, and Theologico Political. 1691.  
The Beginning & Progress of a Needful and Hopeful Reformation.  
A Petition to the House of Commons against their Speaker, etc.  
The Prudentials, to the Authors of the Athenian Mercury, praying Advice, for Relief of their Country, against that pernicious Disease.  
Questions Parliamentary concerning the Rights of the Commons of England, and Duty of their Representatives.  
Old English Loyalty and Policy agreeable to Primitive Christianity.  
A Collection of Modern Relations concerning Witches and Witchcraft, with a Meditation of Sir M. Hale's upon that Subject. 1693.  
Questions concerning Witches and Witchcraft.  
Questions concerning the Proper and Peculiar Christian Worship.  
Liturgica, etc. not Published.  
Mistaken Justice, etc. in Francis Newland. 1695.  
Phinehas: Or the Common Duty of all Men, and the Special Duty of Magistrates, to be Zealous and Active in the Execution of Laws against Scandalous Sins and Debauchery. 1695.  
A Letter to a Lady, concerning the due Improvement of her Advantages of Cellbacie, Portion, and Maturity of Age and Judgement.  
The Liturgy of the Ancients represented, etc. Quarto's.  
The Office of the Faithful Enlarged, according to Ancient Forms.  
Sacred Hymns. Octavos   
FINIS.