THE PREFACE TO THE READER. READER, I HAVE no other use for a preface to this book, but to give you a true excuse for its publication. I wrote it for myself, unre- solved whether any one should ever see it, but at last inclined to leave that to the will of my executors, to publish or suppress it when I am dead, as they saw cause. But my person being seiz- ed on, and my library, and all my goods distrained on by consta- bles, and sold, and I constrained to relinquishmy house, (for preach- ing and being in London,) I knewnot what to do with multitudes of manuscripts that had long lain by me ; having no house to go to, but a narrow hired lodging with strangers : wherefore I cast away whole volumes, which I could not carry away, both controv@sies and letters practical, and cases of conscience ; but having newly lain divers weeks, night and day, in waking torments, nephritic and colic, after other long pains and languor, I took this book with me in my removal, for my ownuse in my further sickness. Three weeks after, falling into another extreme fit, and expecting death, where I had no friendwith me to commit my papers to, merely lest it should be lost, I thought best to ¡ve it to the printer. I think it is so much ofthe work of all meií's lives to prepare to die with safety and comfort, that the same thoughts may be needful for others that are so for me. .If any mislike the title, as if it im- ported thatthe author is dead, let him know that I die daily, and that which quickly will be, almost is : it is suited to my own use : they that it is unsuitable to, may pass it by. If those men's lives were spent in serious, preparing thoughts of death, who are now studying to destroy each other, and tear in pieces a distressed land, they would prevent much dolorous repentance. RICHARD BAXTER.
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