, TIIE PREFACE To this Book ofDeath and Heaven, when it was translated into the German Language, and publishedat Halle, in Saxony, 1727. TO THE READER. HERE is communicated to you a treatise, in which the late pious Mr. Frank, professor of divinityat Halle, found so much edification and satisfac tion thathe engaged an able person to translate it into our German tongue, to make others partake of the same spiritual benefit. This treatise consists of two funeral sermons, which an English divine, who perhaps is still living, composedon thedeath of two eminent persons, whichhe enlarged afterwards for their publication. The subject of the first is death,taken from 1 Cor. xv. 26. The second isteaven, fromHeb. xii. 22. From this last he takes an occasion of flyingwith his thoughts into the blessed mansions of the just made perfect, by giving us not only a very probable and beautiful idea of the glory of a future life in general, but also an enumeration of the many sortsof employments and pleasures, that are to be met with there. Aftertheseveral false notions, people of different complexions have of eternal life, are laid open, the author of the preface goes on and quotes some Getman authors, who have writ upon that subject, and says at last: I hope nobodywill presume to aver this doctrine to have been so tar exltausek by those authors, that nothing new could be said upon it. Forseveral learned writers in England, who inmeditating and searching after hidden truths, have shewn an extraordinary capacity, prove the contrary ; and amongst others there is the treatise, called, The future State, published 1653,by a gentleman whose nameis concealed, which appeared in French 1700, and is now printed in Germanwith a preface of the famous Dr. Pritius, senior, at Frankfurt ad Mrenum. There is among Sir R. Blackmore's Essays, one upon the future beatitudes. The traces of these tw6 Englishgentlemen arefollowed by our present Englishdivine I. WAITS, who however, in many points has outdone these predecessors, and advanced a step farther inhis contemplations. Though the first sermon contains many elegant passages worthy to be read, yet the latter seems to be a more elaborate piece, because it sets the doct trineof eternal life ina-greaterlight, and enriches itwith many probable mfe- rences drawn from the word of God. IIe proposes his excellent thoughts in most emphatical terms, in thatbeautiful order and with such a vivacity of stylethat he keeps the reader in a continual attention, and an eager desire to read on. It is plain the author's mind was so taken up with the beauty of heaven,that leis mouth could not but speak front the abondance of his heart. There is a secret unction in his expressions, which leaves a sweet savour in the reader's heart, and raises in him a desire after the blessed society hespeaks of. And though the reader should not entirely agree with the author's no tions, yet he will not peruse this treatise without a particular edification and blessing.' I cannot deny but the author's conjectures may be sometimes car- ried a little too far, liutthat cloth not prejudice the subject in the least. 'Be- sides, he is generally so happy as to find some arguments for his probable notions w the word of God, and to answer very dexterously all the objections that can hemadeagainst him. May the ever living God give a blessing to this work, and grant that those sweet arid relishing truths proposed in these leavesmay make such an impres- sion upon the minds of the readers as those noble truths deserve. May he ptevert all the abuse of thisdelightful subject,. and never permit it to be turned into a mere dry orfruitless speculation ; but may lie inflame every reader with a holy desire after a blessedeternity, and roaze and exciteall those, that have not begun yet to tread the pathof salvation, to enter into the same without delay, that they may notrest in a meredelightt'ni prospect of the landof Ca- naan, nor be forever excludedby their unbelieffrom the eternal enjoymentof it. Given at Calle, July t0, 1727. JOHN Jacos 1lAazoncii, S. Z'teol. Prof. Ordinar. Vot. It. Z
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