PREFACE.

THE kind reception which has been given to all the other works of this incomparable Author, particularly to his Private Thoughts, written in his younger years, has encouraged the publishing of another volume of his Thoughts, upon subjects of the most importance to the Christian Life in all the chief scenes of it; and those composed when age and experience in the course of his parochial ministry had taught him, what directions were most necessary for the conduct of every disciple of Christ, through all the stages of that race which is set before us, that he so run that he may obtain. Accordingly the reader is here furnished, not only with such instructions as are most proper for the entrance upon this race, and the early discipline of those who are new listed under Christ's banner; but also with such other points both of faith and practice, as are most fit to be afterwards inculcated and pressed upon them, for their successful carrying on of this holy warfare, and finishing their course, so as at last to attain the crown of righteousness, laid up for all those that continue Christ's faithful soldiers and servants to their lives' end.

As in his Private Thoughts and Resolutions, this excellent Bishop seems to have chiefly

aimed at settling his own principles, and regulating his practice, as became a follower of the holy Jesus, and a minister of his Gospel: so in these which are more public, he carries on the same pious design with respect to others, and executes that sacred office for which those were to prepare him. Indeed, great and indefatigable as his labours were, (for few ever laboured more,) the end of them was always the salvation of souls. And as that spirit of piety which runs through all his writings, together with his plain, unaffected, familiar, and yet most solid way of argument and persuasion, are both admirably adapted to this great end; (to say nothing of all his other daily and unwearied pains in the ministry while living;) so, through God's great blessing upon his endeavours, they were then, and have been since, crowned with great success; and it is the hopes and prayers of all good men, that they may continue so to be to the end of the world, and daily add to our holiness and his happiness.

Among many instances that might be given of this happy success, I have now one before me, in a relation of the behaviour of one of this vigilant pastor's flock, in his last sickness, as it is attested by an eye-witness of it. I will not trouble the reader with the particulars; the sum is, that this pious gentleman, with his last breath, expressed so much resignation to God's will, and so little fear of death; such comfort in reflecting the better part of his life, especially his charity to the poor; and so much zeal in recommending that duty to those about him; and, above all,

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such an anticipation of those ecstasies of joy and happiness which he was going to in another world, and so uncommon and enlarged an understanding of the great mysteries of religion; that if, in the midst of these holy raptures, he had not owned his great obligations to Dr. Beveridge for these spiritual blessings; yet we might have easily judged, that so great a proficient in the school of religion could be indebted, under God, to the care and instruction of no less a master for such extraordinary acquirements.

And, with respect to that good, which it is piously hoped this great Prelate's works have done since his death, and may continue to do daily, it has been observed by some devout persons, that since the publication of them, our churches have been generally fuller than they used to be; to which, as nothing would contribute more, than that spirit of devotion and true piety, which in all his practical writings this holy man both expresses himself, and labours to create in others: so, if after all these pious endeavours to cultivate and promote it in the world, we are sensible of the least growth of it, I know not why we may not ascribe so good an effect to the blessing of God upon so probable a cause.

However, if the piety of some among us, which we hope increaseth, be not a sufficient argument of a probable increase of true religion, to be expected from the influence of this great man's works, yet I am sorry to say, that the wickedness of others does abundantly make up that defect; I mean the restless endeavours

of all the enemies of God and religion, to discredit and defame them; if by any means they could be able to ward such a blow to the kingdom of darkness, as they seem to apprehend from his pious labours. And what wonder if those who mock God, and would bring religion itself into contempt, use their utmost endeavours to blast the reputation of an author, whose writings are so eminently serviceable to religion, and tend so much to advance the glory of God? All their attempts of this nature are so many arguments of the excellency of what they would decry; they are the testimonies even of enemies, in behalf of those admirable books which they pretend to ridicule; and all the scorn and contempt they express upon this occasion, reflects more honour upon Bishop Beveridge and his works; I had almost said, even than the approbation and esteem of all his and religion's friends. So much good does God in his infinite wisdom and mercy produce out of the greatest evil, by turning all the wit and malice of these reprobates against themselves, and making them, even against their own wills, instruments of sounding forth the praises of this excellent writer, at the same time, and by the very same means, that they vainly attempt to dishonour and reproach him. As the devils themselves were forced to own our blessed Saviour, though they knew he came on purpose to destroy them. It were only to be wished, that in this, as in most other instances, those children of this world were not in their generation so much wiser than the children of light,