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for the Prefs, and which are now firft offered to the World from his Original Manuscripts: And he employed a great Portion of the latter Part of his Life (in the weak State of Health he laboured under) to prepare them for that Purpose.

It is true he lived not fully to accomplish this Design, to finish and improve fome of the Subjects treated of by him, in the Manner he intended: for which Reason the Dif courses on our Lord's Temptations in the first Volume; on his Meffiahship, and a Future State, in the second; and the Doctrine of An→ gels, in the third; muft unavoidably appear defective. However, it was judged, those Difcourses might be of confiderable Use notwithstanding any fuch Defects; (and they may be faid to be perfect as far as they go;). and it was prefumed, the Reader would be better pleased to have them as they are, than not to have them at all. Whofe Candour and Indulgence will also, it is hoped, be extended to the fmaller Inaccuracies and Imperfections of a Pofthumous Work, whereever they occur. And those very Imperfections will be of fome Ufe, to shew the Fidelity with which these Sermons have been printed from the Original Manuscripts; no Liberty having been taken defignedly to vary A 4 from

from them; except where it was necessary fometimes, for the connecting of a Sentence; as Vol. iii. p. 402. or to add a few Words, to avoid breaking off abruptly; as the last Paragraph at the End of that Volume, p. 403. The Author's laft Paragraph, p. 402-3. being only defigned, as the Foundation for the practical Ufes which were to have followed after. I can bear Witness to this ftrict Regard to the Manufcripts, in a great Measure, from an ocular Inspection; and likewise, from the exprefs Declaration of the Gentleman who undertook the Revifal of Them, and the Direction of the Prefs, but died before he had finished his Undertaking.

As to any peculiar Notions, or over-curious Speculations; (which may poffibly be observed in fome Places;) the Harmlesness and Innocency of them, and the Ingenuity and Modefty with which they are propofed, will reasonably fecure them of an easy Pardon, from those who may not, perhaps, approve of their Solidity.

In particular, as to what is advanced concerning Prayers for the Dead; (which may be thought most liable to Exception;) it should be confidered, that fomewhat of this kind is not only contained in the Office for the Burial of the Dead, but is alfo virtually in

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cluded in that Petition of the Lord's Prayer, THY KINGDOM COME: And, as far as is here pleaded for, is fhewn to have no Connexion with the Popish Doctrine of Purgatory, but to be inconfiftent with it, and even fubverfive of it. Vol. ii. p. 476-7-8.

But it will be neceffary to make fome Apology, and befpeak the Favour of the Courteous Reader, in regard, not only to a Flight now and then of the Author's Fancy, fome small Inaccuracies of Style, or flighter Errors of his Pen; but also to the Errors of the Prefs, which the Author is no Way concerned in, and which these Sermons had never appeared with, had he published them himself: whose Expertness and Exactnefs, had been often tried on fuch Occafions.

To make the beft Amends that could be, for Miftakes of this kind; the chiefeft Errata, have been carefully corrected; though leffer Faults in Spelling, Pointing, &c, have been purposely paffed over, which the Intelligent. Reader will eafily obferve, and the Candid, will excufe.

Among the Miftakes which have been purposely paffed over; the chief are those relating to Texts of Scripture: fome of which are misplaced; being taken from the Margin, of the Author, where the References were

exact,

exact, and not so exactly inserted in the Body of the Book; as Vol. i. p. 35, 59, 60, &c. and some others, as the Pfalms in Vol. iii. p. 350-353. were only inferted by fome unaccountable Accident; and should be all erafed, as wholly foreign to the Subject there treated of.

.

If any have the Curiofity to enquire, what Book is referred to, in the Sermons, upon Hebr. ix. 27. Vol. ii. and Hebr. xii. 1. Vol. iii. they may be informed, that, it is a Book of Devotion, written by a Roman Catholick, which has been feveral Times published as reformed by another Hand, and recommended by Dr. Hicks; and as reformed and put into another Method, by Mr. Dorrington; ufually known, by the Name of Hicks's, and Dorrington's Reformed Devotions.

And now, having faid thus much to prepare the Way; I shall no longer detain the Reader, from the Perufal of the Sermons of my very worthy Friend: and I make no Question, but others will receive great Pleafure and Improvement thereby, as I have found myself.

j. B.

CON.

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