of

indeed originally intended, for the more particular Service of an Excellent Young Prince. The prudent Methods of whofe Education, tho' they were far from needing any Helps from so much meaner Hands; Yet did not make the Zeal of offering them, ceafe to be a Tribute due to his high Station, from every Lover of this Church and Country. God faw him quickly ripe for Heaven, and hath actually plac'd upon his Head a brighter and more durable Crown, than That, which awaited him in Reverfion here below. To His infinite Advantage, 'tis certain; though to the fad Difappointment of thofe glorious Profpects, which fed our Hopes of his Future Greatness, and our Happinefs in it. For, What indeed might we not be allowed to promife our felves, of Wisdom, and Virtue, and Goodness, and every Qualification, proper to a Princely, and a Chriftian Mind; from a Genius fo noble, a Capacity fo large, Attainments fo far above His tender Age, and, to fay all in a Word, from the Son of fuch Parents?

Ι

But

But God is wife and juft in all his Counfels. And, bleffed be his Mercy, which bath preferved to us a Royal Mother : To the Number of whofe Years, we hope, he will please to add the Proportion, wanting in the natural Course of her Son's. Nor muft we forget to be truly thankful for the very valuable Bleffing, of a Proteftant Succeffion to our Pofterity; when thofe Years fhall, as alas! at length they muft, fail. So that our Excellent Church bath fill all the Security, that Human Appearances can give, of a firm and lafting Eftablishment. The only Dangers, that seem to threaten us, arife from our Wickedness, and our Divifions. The Former would be effectually prevented, by improving those Advantages to Devotion, and Piety, and all manner of Virtue, which (it is the Defign of this Treatife to fhew) are, in great plenty, put into our Hands. The Latter would be in good measure healed, would our Brethren of different Perfuafions lay afide their unreasonable Prejudices fo far, as to acquaint themselves throughly with the true Chriftian Spirit,

the

the Wisdom, the Ufefulmefs, the Seafonableness, of our Publick Offices. To both which ends, fo far as my prefent Concern reaches, fomewhat, I am apt to believe, the following Difcourfes may contribute; if they fhall be allowed fa much place, in the more retired Devotions of the Family, or the Clofet; that each of them be made the Subject of Private Confideration, on the refpective Days of their being publickly read in our Churches. This Method would always employ our Thoughts with Safety, and Edification; and, upon all folemn Occafions, will fuggeft fuch things to our Minds, as are fure to be feasonable and proper, and leave good Impreffions

behind them.

In pursuance of my Defign to render this Book ufeful to All, I have endeavoured, that it may not be (justly) unaccepta ble to Any. Hence all the Modern Points of Controverfy are no where induftriously enlarged upon. And, as oft as the Vin dication of the Church's Honour hath made fome little mention of any fuch neceffary; it hath been my confiant Defire to avoid

all

all Offence, by treating Thofe of a different Opinion, in fuch a manner, as to intend the refuting their Errors, but never the reproaching any Perfons, who lie under the Unhappiness of being feduced into them.

When I firft undertook this Work, it was in my Mind, to have explained particularly the Reafons, and Ufages, of the feveral folemn Seafons, fet apart for Publick Devotion; As alfo, to have given fome fhort Account, of the Remains we have in "Hiftory, concerning thofe Blessed Saints, whofe Virtues we at fet times commemorate, and of the Reasonableness of paying this Honour to them. But, being in this Subject already prevented, by the pious Labours of a Learned and Worthy Friend; I fball contract my Thoughts of this kind, as Occafions offer, and only hint fo much,

Mr. Nelson on the Feftivals and

Fafts.

as may be ferviceable to the main Defign of this Book: Which is, the expounding and improving the Portions of Scripture, recommended to us on those occafions. I have done, after having advifed my Reader, not to look for any Oftentation of

4

Nicety,

Nicety, or Eloquence, in the following Sheets; but fuch a plain and familiar Style, as might make my Arguments most intelligible, and my Exhortations, grounded upon them, most affectionate and moving. For the things I aim at, are, Becoming an Inftrument of Good in the Function God hath called me to; Doing Juftice to the purest and wifeft of Churches; And, as She in appointing, fo I, in difcourfing upon ber Epiftles and Gofpels, Seek the Profit of many, that they may be faved. With this Mind, if the Reader do likewife take care to peruse them, my End will not fail in good degree to be attained, nor the Bleffing of God to reward his Pains. To whofe Grace I moft heartily recommend these poor unworthy Labours, and every One, into whofe Hands they fhall come: Befeeching Him, to be prefent with all fuch; and, by the inward Teachings of his Holy Spirit, to profper whatsoever is contained, and to Supply whatsoever is wanting, here. That Peace and Love, Decency and Order, Union and Obedience, Truth and Justice, Religion and Piety may flourish and a

bound