MEE EL! u a g The Authors Epiítle to the Chrii}ian and Courteous READER. H E counfell of the Heathen Poet, for the maturity of public; writings, (Nonum pre- ....1 in annum) bath not been of me altoge- COS tbernegleCied : for .1 begun the expofition of / this peerle fire Epi file forcefevers years fit hence at leas, (after I had ferved three whole Ap- prentifhips in the Minifl ry of the glorious Go f hell of God.) According to the Greek Proverbe, s£u've ' mesv,ié c, Our latter Thoughts being wifer then our firft, I went over it again by Catechizing Qeflions and Anfwers in my Charge, when I had once fcnifhed it by Le`lures or Sermons. All this while I had not a peece of a purpofe to publifh it (being refolved it fhould ferve as Seed, for that portion o f the Lords field,and Husbandry committed to my care and trufl) partly becaufe dirverfe learned Commentaries of Moderne Writers, both of rain and domefti- call, and tome of them in our Mother - tongue were already 'extant upon ibis Epifilelbut efjiecially, or that I judged my fe lf far unfu frcient for fuck an enterprife. 4s there was fnnall reafon after filch burning lampes, to ereil my obfcure light, fo I faw great reafon to efieetnmy worke very unworthy the publickview of this lettered & judicious Age. Tea, though fundry of my fellow- helpers in the Lord (who by occaf- on of their buJme fe in our City, were partakers o f part of theft Labours) both by word and writing, out of other Dioceffes, folicited me both earnrilyy and often : For all this, i fuf ered it to lye by me3 rudely drawn out in Papers, for Mine owne private ufe. !it lafl being much moved thereunto by three feverall Letters,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=