PREFACE. WHE HEN I first propofed writing upon the important Subject of Prayer, it was objected that there was nothing new to be faid upon it. Whether I have made any Improvement, I must leave to the Determination of my Readers; but, if I have added no new Materials to the old Stock, my Book, notwithstanding, may be more compleat than any yet extant on the Subject-Where fo many Perfons of Ability have written upon any Subject, they have excelled one another upon different Parts of it; and, therefore, if any one bas Judgment enough to felect their peculiar Excellencies, and connect them bandfomely together, their united Beauties must excel any one of thofe Books out of which they are collected. Another Advantage new Books have over old. ones from the Curiofity of Mankind. The World is more inquifitive into the Merit of modern Performances, and more inclined to look into them, than to enquire after those which have been long, like a dead Man, out of Mind. Books are like Fashions; when they become old, (unless they be fuperlatively Excellent, and the Authors of fupereminent Reputation) they are laid afide. The Materials may be the fame, but the Drels must be altered, or they will be thought awkward, This This is an Advantage that is owing to the Tafte of the World; but there is a real and substantial one, which has its Foundation in Reafon. Mo dern Books may not only be better adapted to the prevailing Guft of the Reader, but to the Circumftances, and Exigences of the Times. The Enemies of Religion and Virtue, like the military Gentlemen, are perpetually inventing new Weapons, new Evolutions, new Methods of Attack, which will require a fuitable Alteration in our Arts of Defence. I fhall mention but one Advantage more, and that arifes from the Difpofition of the Parts, wherein the last Writer may excel by the Afiftance of his Predeceffors. Much Strength and Perfpicu ity depend upon this happy Arrangement; as in a Picture, where there is a Group of Figures, they must all be placed in fuch an advantageous Situation, that they may throw Light and Luftre upon each other. By the Help of thefe Obfervations let my Readers judge and try my Book; but, as I write with Freedom, let them judge with Candor. There are two Things more that will be expected from this Preface; viz. an account of the Additions that are made to the original Defign, and why the Publication of thefe Difcourfes has been fo long delayed. The Sermon upon the one thing needful, and those upon the Sunday, bad the good Luck to make fo confiderable an Impreffion upon many Perfons, that I could not help thinking them worth preferving from the common Fate of ftitcht Things; the the other upon the Importance of publick Worhip, though a great Part of it is woven into the Book, is here printed by itself at the particular Request of a Gentleman of Fortune, belonging to the Guards, who happened to be at Church where 1 preach'd it. For delaying the Publication, I have too good an Excufe. For feveral fubftantial Reafons it was bighly expedient that I should make the Defign as profitable to myfelf as could honeftly be done; but, the Importunity of my few Subfcribers would not permit me to do it. I hope, many of my Friends, who might have Reafons for not encouraging my Subfcription, will not be able to find any good ones against promoting the Sale of my Book; if not for my Sake, yet, for the Sake of Religion, at a time when it ftands in fo much need of the united and most vigorous Affiftance of its Friends. One thing I promise them, that it is the laft Trouble of the kind that I fhall give them. I have, indeed, been defired to engage, again, as an auxiliary Correfpondent to a Paper of the like kind with my Mifcellany, which I declined, not out of Pique, but Incapacity: I can honestly take up the Wish of Cato-Whilft I yet live, let me not live in Vain-But, I muft fubmit to the Decays of Nature; and am very thankful to God for the little Service that I have been able to do my Religion, my Country, and my King; befides fome good Offices in private Life. Had my Abilities, and Opportunities, of doing good been greater, I am willing to believe that I should have done Somewhat more. THIS I know, that my small Ta 7 1 lent lent has not been hid in a Napkin. THIS has been, through a long Courfe of uninterrupted Fatigue and Vexation; This, I humbly hope, will fhortly be, at the Hour of Death, my great Support. As I am going to take a folemn, final Leave of the World, as a public Writer, it is fit that I fhould die, as I moft fincerely do, in perfect Charity with all Mankind. To thofe who have given Encouragement to my. Undertaking, I return my hearty Thanks, hoping for the Continuance of their good Offices. I must deny myself the Pleasure of being particular in the Acknowledgement of Obligations, for fear of giving Offence, where I should be glad to shew the greatest Refpect. And now, Chriflian Reader, Vale,et in æternum Vale. N. B. In the following Difcourfe, the Chapter Concerning the Effects of Prayer, is, by Miftake, divided into two, at Page 87. A |