manner, but in the goodness of the fentiment; which few underftand, and fewer admire. If you afk, Why then do you print them, if they will not be generally well received? It was to oblige feveral friends of the deceafed. When thefe letters fell into their hands, they found great profit and delight in the perufal of them, and they believed others might find the fame, and therefore they requested the publication, and prevailed. Whether it was right, or not, every reader will judge for himself; but that he may not judge rafh judgment, he should confider the motives upon which they acted. They firft defired the publication, because they thought it would be for God's glory. In the letters taken together there is a general view of God's gracious promifes, and of his faithfulness and truth in fulfiling them, whereby it appears that Jefus Christ is the fame yesterday, to day, and for ever. has engaged in his word to do many things for his people in the prefent life, the experience of which very few expect or feek for, He and and thereby they deprive themfelves of the greatest comforts of the gofpel: whereas they that have expected and fought for prefent falvation, have found that not one tittle has failed of all the good things which God their Saviour had promifed: all are come to pafs, and not one thing has failed thereof. The candid reader will find many excellent obfervations upon this particular running. through these letters, tending to the honour of that God, who glories in keeping mercy for thousands, and in being faithful and just to forgive us our fins. There was another reason, which had great weight with the friends of the deceased. They had found benefit from the perufal of these letters, and therefore they hoped that others who were in the fame frame and temper of mind with themselves might be profited by the fame means. Whoever reads them, and is no better for it, fhould not be offended with us for liking them, any more than he should be angry with grown men, because they have left off eating milk, and are now defirous of ftrong meat. |