THE PUBLISHER TO THE ER. R E A D E THE HE author of thofe fermons was fo well known, particularly for his most excellent and useful difourfes from the pulpit, that I fhall not attempt, by any thing I can fay, to recommend them to the public. I know very well, they have already that credit in the world, which will render any apology needlefs; efpecially when, by this publication of them, they shall fpeak for themselves. I think it requifite, only to affure the reader, that they are what they pretend to be, the genuine works of that great man. : Whilft I had the happiness of converfing with him, he was pleafed (at my requeft) to inftruct me in the character in which he wrote all his fermons and fome of thefe now published, having been tranfcribed by me fome years fince, were found amongst his papers, cor rected with his own hand. By what he had been pleased to fay, that I was mafter of his character, and by the few errata he observed in my first performance, I was encouraged to fet about this work: in which I can folemnly profefs, that I have obferved a religious care and ftriétnefs, neither to omit nor add any thing, but an of, a the, or the like, when the fenfe plainly required it; and of that too I have given notice, by affixing this mark (") upon the word which I did not find in the original; fo that the reader |