In answer to Rod Bell’s question below, the “f”-like “s” was standard in 18th-century type. The actual “f” was slightly different, and a more familiar-looking “s” could be used to end a word. You can see all this in the following random newspaper example:
I am not sure off the top of my head when this practice changed. If some type maven out there (or just at AAS) knows the chapter and verse on this, please supply.