in its favour, from the following lines written on a blank page of a former edition, by a celebrated minister of the church of England, whose name, were it to be made public, would gain readers of every rank and degree. "There is no book I have so often read as this; it is always on my study-table; it is my vade mecum in travelling; it is by my bed-side in sickness; I can read a little in this when I can read no other author; it is the best manual I know for a christian and for a minister; it will furnish excellent materials for addressing conscience, and for directing

men

Nor are recommendations wanting from other hands. Mr. Baxter, after speaking in the highest terms of the author's acknowledged worth, adds, that "he was much in the study of his own heart by strict examination, as his cabinet-papers, which may come to light, make known." It is more than probable, that the following pages are there

meant.

The judicious Mr. Howe was not ashamed to write a prefatory epistle, which was prefixed to the last edition. of the year 1741, by the

reverend and learned Dr.

Wright.

Extracts from one or two of the sprightly encomiums. largely bestowed in that epistle may not be unacceptable. "Here (says Mr. Howe) are vivid representations of faith, love, and an heavenly mind; of humility, meekness, selfdenial, and entire resignation to the will of God, in their first and continued motions."

"Here it may be seen how an heart touched from above, works and tends thitherward; how it depresses itself in humiliation, dilates itself in love, exalts itself in praise, submits itself under chastenings; how

it

it draws in its refreshings and succours as there is need." "What is here presented, as it may be of great use to all who seriously design the christian life, so it hath a special use for such as design it not, thinking there is no such thing. Again, "You may see this worthy man considered the gospel as a gospel of salvation, and that he not only taught, but used it accordingly. How solicitous was he to ground his hope of eternal life substantially and strongly How warily did he feel his way, and labour to understand and to know practically how he might safely appear before his Judge!"

The

The method of establishing our peace with God, together with a directory to know when it is established, being the main scope of what follows, the editor believed he was serving the cause of religion, while he was attempting to render a concise and judicious work, calculated to promote so benevolent a purpose, better known and easier to be procured.

To conclude, the gloomy apprehensions which seem to have crept in among some pious people concerning the Almighty, as though he was an angry arbitrary Monarch, rather than their reconciled Father, "full of mercy and 9:

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