Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic]
[ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

TO THE

RIGHT REVEREND AND HONOURABLE

SHUTE

LORD BISHOP OF SARUM

AND CHANCELLOR OF THE MOST NOBLE

ORDER OF THE GARTER.

MY LORD,

HONOURED long ago by your

Friendship, and diftinguished of late, among the first, by your voluntary and unfolicited Patronage, it would ill become me to appear in public without paying You my tribute of Gratitude, and expreffing my warmest ac

knowledgements

knowledgements for Favours, rendered doubly obligatory by the mode of conferring them. But there will appear a peculiar propriety in the introduction of your Lordship's Name at the head of this Work, when it is known that it was You, who first prompted the Author to undertake, and afterwards encouraged him, perhaps too juftly diffident of his own Abilities, to persevere in it. If therefore there fhould be found any thing useful or valuable in these Sheets, it must all be placed to the account of Your unwearied zeal in recommending and enforcing, upon principle, the cultivation of Sacred Literature. It would be arrogance in ma to imagine, that my weak Voice could have any influence in guiding the Public Applaufe. But the World will daily receive the most substantial! proofs, that your Lordfhip comes not behind the most illustrious off Your Predeceflors in any akamegholwant

[ocr errors]

of

[ocr errors]

of the Qualifications, which conftitute or adorn the Character of a truly Chriftian Bishop. That You may long live to fignalize those Virtues, which must neceffarily tend to advance the Credit of our moft Holy Religion, confirm the Happiness of Your Diocese, and greatly endear You both to God and Man, is the unfeigned and ardent Prayer of,

MY LORD,

Your Lordship's

most dutiful

and most devoted Servant

BENJAMIN BLAYNEY.

« PreviousContinue »