The Preface to the Reader: I hadneither time nor ftrength to attend the Preis, fo as to infped the Imprefion Ikea by fheet; and thereupon I nulled to the promifed Care of the. Bookfellersa but I found upon review the Errata to be more numerous and groS byfar than ever I expected. But if the Candid Reader will corre& the Errata , as they are ren- der'd corrigible to his view, I (hall think my fell greatly obliged to him. But if the Reader's firft Hiltorical Salute difpleafe him, as being much beneathhis expect- ed Entertainment, one hours reading I hope he will find to be the utmolt -Exer- cife of his Patience, from the meannefs of the Matter at his Entrance into the Book. II. As to the Author'sordering and digeltingof his ownMemoirs, a Rhapfody it now appears s and as to method and equality ofStile, fomewhat below what curious Readers might expeót; yea, and fromwhat it had been, had it but paffed the Author's hiderThoughts andView. Yet we (hall find the Hifory greatly ufeful, though not exactly uniform ; nor'is it fo confufed, as to be incapable ofea- fie References and Reduaions to Euch proper Order asmay belt pleafe the Reader:, if the Defign be clear and worthy, viz. to tet in open Light the degenerate Age he lived in : the magnalia of Grace and Providenceas to bimfelf e his Self-cenfurings on all occafions: Caution and Conduct unto others : and tracing all &vents to their genuineSources and Originals, the judicious Reader will improve fuckthings, There were feveral Papers loofely laid, which' could not eafily be found , when needed. And ,the defe&ivenefs of my very muchdeclining Memory, mademe for- get ( and the more, becaufe of haste and bufrnefs) where I had laid them after I had found them. And force few Papers mention'd, and important here , are not yet found, though fearch'd after; which yet hereafter may be brought to light amongf force others, intended forthe Publick View, if God permit. The Reve- rend Author wrote them at feveral times, as his other Work and 'Studies, and fre- quent Infirmitieswould admit of. And he was more intent upon the Matter than the Method : and finding his Evening Shadows growing long, as the Prefageof his own approaching and expected Change, he was willing (through the importunity of his Friends) to haften the compleating of his Works before he died. And he had rather that the Work was done fomewhat imperfectly , than not at all. It is true indeed, that he bath left us nothing of the lait Seven years ofhis Life, lave his Apology for his accufed Parapbrafe and Notes on the New Teftament , for which he was fo fiercely profetuted, imprifoned, traduced and fined. And though fame preffed me to drawup the Supplemental Hillary of his Life, yet the wifelt that I couldconfule advifed me to thecontrary : and I did take their counsel to be right and good; for I well knew my fell very unable to do that uniformly with thereft ; and I was not inclined to obtrude upon the World what was not Mr. Barters. Pre- carious Reputation I affe& not. That Fame cannot berightfully my own which is not deferved by me. And if this Preface and myfubjoyned Sermon be butcan- didly received, or moderately cenfured, and any way tributary to the Reader's benefit , I (hall rejoyce therein , and not expe& his undeferved Commenda- tion. III. I am well aware ( and think it worth my while to take notice) of feveral Things which may awaken Prejudice, Cenfure, or Difpleafure , and occafon (if not caul) Obje&ions and Offence, as to the Treatife and my fell; which I would obviate and prevent ( at leaft allay) if poffïble. I neither love to kindle Flames, nor to enrage them, nor to contributethe leali breath or fewel to them. I am for Faithfulnefs and Truth in the foftef file and way confiftent with the Ends and Interelt thereof. Flattering Titles and needlefs Pungencies I difaf. What was the Author's, is not mine. To nublilh is not always to affent. And if Modell), and Selfdiffidence domake me refrain from Cenfures and Correftionsand Expun- &ions, can that be efeemedculpable ? Efpecially when it is vet foie Meridian cla- rims, to both my felfand everyMan, how much my Knowledge, Parts, Judgment, Holinefs and Advantages to know what hé Reports and Cenfùres, come fhort of what his were. Molt of the Perfons (ifnot well nigh all) cenfured by him , were altogether unknown tome : Nor do I find them all, or many, mentioned by him as utterly ungodly or undone. But as far as Mifcarriages or Negle&s upon the Publick Stage did miniller to Sufpicion, ana (to the prejudicethereof) affe& the Publick Intereft ; fo far they are remarked by him with refentmene If jaflly, the Equity will jufifie the Cenfure; and evidently hew how much the Interef of Church and State lay nearer to, and more upon his Heart than private Friendship or
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