the good old man (whose piety and charity Mr. Saltkel magnified much) not only difavowed, but detefted. Not to trouble you further; your reader (if, according to your defire, my approbation of your work carries any weight) will here find many juft reafons to thank you for it; and poffibly for this circumftance here mentioned (not known to many) may happily apprehend one to thank him, who heartily wishes your happiness, and is unfeignedly, THE INTRODUCTION. IF that great mafter of language and art, Sir Henry Wotton, the late Provost of Eton College, had lived to fee the publication of these Sermons, he had prefented the world with the Author's life exactly written; and it was pity he did not, for it was a work worthy his undertaking, and he fit to undertake it: betwixt whom and the Author there was fo mutual a knowledge, and fuch a friendship contracted in their youth, as nothing but death could force a feparation. And though their bodies were divided, their affections were not; for that learned Knight's love followed his friend's fame beyond death and the forgetful grave; which he teftified by entreating me, whom he acquainted with his defign, to enquire of fome particulars that concerned it, not doubting but my know B 2 : knowledge of the Author, and love to his memory, might make my diligence ufeful. I did moft gladly undertake the employment, and continued it with great content, till I had made my collection ready to be augmented and completed. by his matchlefs pen: but then death prevented his intentions. When I heard that fad news, and heard also that these Sermons were to be printed, and want the Author's life, which I thought to be very remarkable; indignation or grief (indeed I know not which) transported me fo far, that I reviewed my forfaken collections, and refolved the world should see the best plain picture of the Author's life that my artless pencil, guided by the hand of truth, could present to it. And if I fhall now be demanded, as once Pompey's poor bond-man was *,(the grateful wretch had been left alone. on the fea-fhore, with the forfaken dead body of his once glorious lord and master; and was then gathering the scattered * Plutarch. |