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PREFACE
TO
THIS EDITION.
IT
is
truly
remarked
by
Dr.
JOHNSON',
(speaking
of
our
author), that " few
men
have
left
behind
such
purity
of
character, or
such monuments
of
la-
borious
piety.
He
has
provided
instruction
for
all
ages,
from
those
who
are
lisping
their
first
lessons,
to
the
enlightened readers
of
Malebranche and Locke;
he has
left neither
corporeal
nor
spiritual nature
unexamined;
he
has
taught
the
art
of
reasoning,
and
the
science
of
the
stars." Many
of
these
pieces,
however,
are
not
of
general
interest,
especially
among
those
pious persons
who
are
the
chief admirers
of
Dr.
WATTS.
His
school
books,
and
books
of
science,
are
in
great
measure superseded
by
more modern
publications,
and
later
discoveries.
His
Logic and Improvement
of
the
Mind are
indeed
invaluable;
but
these,
as well
as
several other
of
his
works,
are
already
printed
in
every
form
and
size.
His
Controversial Pieces
are
the least
admired,
and
may
be
suffered
to sleep
in
peace,
unless
sought
for
by
a fezo
curious
minds, who
delight
in
what
the
Doctor
himself
did
not
polemical
divinity.
His
SERMONS,
and
PRACTICAL PIECES, however,
are unri-
valled.
It
may
be
said
of
them, in.
the
language
of
a
great
author, "
The
critic ought
to
read
them
for
their
G