proval of certain parts of them from recommending them to others. Those who are well acquainted with the "Holy Living and Dying" will readily understand, that I allude to the author's constant practice of illustrating Christian duties, by examples taken from ecclesiastical, and even from profane history; a practice sanctioned indeed by the taste of the seventeenth century, though somewhat at variance with our present feelings. To this it must be added, that the phraseology of the devotional parts has not been found throughout suited to every taste and temperament; and that in some places rules of conduct are laid down for persons in certain states of life, concerning which it must be confessed, that though fenced round with a hedge of caution by the Author himself, they are scarcely fitted for the indiscriminate perusal of young persons. I have, therefore, endeavoured in the present edition to adapt these works to general use, by omitting, with scarcely any exception, all the stories from heathen and ancient authors, together with the numerous quotations from Greek and Latin and other writers, with which these works in their original state abound; whilst, for the sake of the young, parts are left out of some chapters, which speak of duties and temptations not belonging to their state and age.

I am well aware, that I have had a delicate, as well as difficult task, to accomplish. Some persons

may think, that I have not omitted enough: others, that I might have retained more. The rule which I

laid down for my guidance was this; to omit nothing, which I did not think the author himself might be supposed willing to strike out, were he now alive to adapt his works to the taste of this age, and to our more refined, though not more innocent, feelings. Whilst therefore I have in many places expunged words or phrases, which seemed likely to offend fastidious readers, it will be found that I have left the peculiarities of the learned writer's diction, as well as of his doctrines, untouched: indeed, to have acted otherwise would have been to exhibit an unfaithful portraiture of his style and sentiments.

But, though, in the present edition, the "Holy Living and Dying" may have lost in some degree its antiquated character, it is not on that account less desirable, that the reader should be acquainted both with the condition of our Church, and also with the peculiar circumstances of the author, at the period when these works were published. If no other benefit result to the reader from such information, he will at least be led to admire the wonderful providence of God, which brings good out of evil, and which has, in former ages, often caused the troubles of the Church, to contribute to her instruction in succeeding generations.

The "Holy Living" was first published in 1650. In the Dedication to the Earl of Carbery, which is

prefixed to it, the learned author describes, in most forcible language, the depths of calamity in which the Church was at that time overwhelmed. He speaks of "the ministers of religion being unable to unite to stop the inundation:" of "the solemn assemblies of the Church of England being so scattered, that men thought her religion lost :" of "his brethren in persecution:" and of "the case being so with our Church, that we are reduced to that religion which no man can forbid; which we can keep in the midst of a persecution; by which the martyrs, in the days of our fathers, went to heaven; that, by which we can be servants of God, and receive the Spirit of Christ, and make use of his comforts, and live in his love and in charity with all men."

This description was written a year or more after the murder of King Charles the First; but the sufferings of the Church, to which allusion is thus made, were not the result, but the prelude to that dreadful crime. They had commenced seven years at least before the King's death, with the imprisonment of twelve of the Bishops, and the subsequent expulsion of the Prelates from the House of Lords; then followed, in 1643, the Ordinance for taking the Solemn League and Covenant, and the ejection of such clergymen from their livings as the Parliament pronounced unfit for the pastoral charge; and at the end of another two years, in the month of August, 1645, came forth the Ordinance for call

ing in and suppressing the Book of Common Prayer, the use of it being forbidden, under severe penalties, not only in the Church but even in private families. Under these and other Ordinances of the Parliament many of the clergy were imprisoned, whilst sequestration and poverty were the lot of all, who remained faithful to the Church and loyal to their King. In all these distresses of the times our author bore his full share, being taken prisoner whilst attending the royal army in his capacity of chaplain to the King, ejected from his living of Uppingham, and obliged at his release to support himself by joining two other clergymen in keeping a school at Newton Hall in the parish of Llanfihangel, in the county of Caermarthen. His residence in this place was the occasion of his being employed as a chaplain in the household of the Earl of Carbery, whose seat, Golden Grove, was situate in that parish. From that noble. man he received both pecuniary assistance and such countenance as caused his school to prosper, circumstances which he gratefully recorded in the preface to his sermons preached at Golden Grove, acknowledging that he owed to his Lordship "the quiet and the opportunities and circumstances of that trade." This brief sketch of the troublous times which preceded the publication of the "Holy Living," will explain some parts of the Dedication prefixed to that work; and afford to the reader the means of duly appreciating the truly charitable spirit

of one, who could write a book for the peculiar use of his brethren in persecution, without uttering in it one single bitter word, against those who had caused such sufferings, and who could thus give full proof, that his religion indeed possessed the distinctive character of being "first pure and then peaceable."

The Dedication prefixed to the "Holy Dying," and which is also addressed to the same nobleman, contains no allusion to public affairs; but it is remarkable for the evidence which it contains of that work being written at the desire, and for the use of the pious and exemplary wife of the Earl of Carbery, who died a short time before its publication, and upon the anniversary of whose death, namely, October 9, 1651, Taylor dedicated the work to her husband. At the time of her death this noble lady had scarcely passed her twenty-ninth year; the character of her life and deportment is so beautifully pourtrayed in the sermon, which Taylor preached at her funeral, that I cannot do better than recommend to my readers to study it1, as exhibiting an example of heartfelt piety, humility of temper, and conjugal affection; and if the account there given of her death be such, that no one can read it without joining with Taylor in saying, "She died as I fain would die;" the description of her life will serve to show, how consistent

1 Bp. Taylor's Works, vol. vi. p. 453. ed. 1822.