To the ChriftianReader. Through the All-difpofngprovidenceofGod, and the importunate call of not a fewworthy friends, I began this Work; and now, after twenty-four years travel, making twelveRa- ges (in fomany parts, the whole is comeforth) I am come to the end of it ; And truly, Imight juflly be reproved, at leaft, fordulnefs and indi- ligence, or counted a veryflow-pacedTraveller, hadIfilent that twenty-four years (the befi of my time and ftrength) ,-in meafuringfo fbort a journey. But, as Ihave this to fay towards an Apologyfor my over-longflay in thiswork,that Ihave hadfrequent diverfions, for a confìdera- ble part of that time, quite from it ; fo the whole time which I have [pent in it, bath been but a diverfion, or time (I hope,honeftly)ftoln, eitherfrommy reff, or from that which was my moreproper wer dnd, now that I have, at lafi, endedwhat I began, all that Ifhall fayof it, is, that I have endedit. Whether I began it well, or have ended it well, andwhether orno the end be better than thebeginning, is notfor me tofay. Should I fay, that I began it well, andhave ended it well, or that the end is better than thebeginning, it were a piece of »toff immodeft pride; andfhould I fay the contrary of both, or of either, it might de-
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