A

PREFACE

By WAY of

DEDICATION.

GENTLEMEN,

HIS book is not addreffed to you, in order to afk your protection for

T

its faults; or in hopes, that fuch yaluable names at the head of it, may preferve it. Things in print muft ftand by their own worth. But it is offered to you, to let the world fce I had that confidence in the goodness of my defign in writing it, as to submit it to fuch great and impartial judges; and that I believe you will report your opinion in fuch a manner, as to procure me the esteem of the virtuous; when you find that my principal intention in this piece, is to ferve the interefts of truth, liberty, and religion, and to advance ufeful learning, to the best of my abilities:that I have the happiness of mankind at heart, and attempt, in an hiftorical manner, to encrease their knowledge in general; and in particular, to lead them to a pious contemplation and acknowledgment of Goa's unfpeakable wifdom and goodness manifefted in the works of the creation; fhew them the truth of the tefti

mony of Jefus Christ concerning a divine providence, immortality, and a future ftate; and that as virtue advances and improves, human felicity augments, and becomes a fure prognoftic of that fulness of blifs, which men of goodness and integrity are to enjoy, without interruption, frailty, and infirmity, in an unchangeable and everlasting life. This was my scheme. These things I had principally in view, when, to vindicate my character from mifrepresentation and idle stories, and to illuftrate my Memoirs of feveral Ladies of Great Britain, I fat down to write a true history of my life and notions. You will fee at once, gentlemen, that this is the laboured part of my work. Were I able to write so as to persuade even a few to alter their way of living, and employ their time for the future, in forming and training up their moral powers to perfection, I should think myself more fortunate and glorious than the greatest genius in the temple of Fame. Indeed, gentlemen, fame or name, in this world, is not the thing I think of. Non eft mortale quod opto, I can fay with Lactantius: and were it within my power to choose, fure I am, that I would be for ever unknown. But that was impoflible. In juftice to myself, as before obferved, and that tradition might not hand me down, when I

am gone, in that variety of bad and foolish characters, which a malice that knows nothing of me, whispers while I am living; it was neceffary I fhould tell my own story. The relation was likewife requifite, to render the Memoirs before mentioned intelligible. The volumes of that work, which are to be published, would be quite dark, and not fo grateful as intended, without a previous account of the author's life.

This, gentlemen, is the truth of the cafe, and as I say as little of myself, in my relation, as I can; and as much for true religion and useful learning, as I was able, I hope, from your rectitude and judgment, that you will get me a fair hearing; and I call upon you as my patrons, and the friends to learning and truth, for your approbation of my good and pious intentions, tho' you should not be able to say one word of any excellencies in my writings. This is all I afk. As I wish well to your caufe, the cause of virtue and letters, and have chiefly endeavoured, according to my abilities, to make my readers acquainted with the majesty of the Deity, and his kingdom, and the greatness of his excellency, before whom all the inhabitants of the earth, all powers and principalities, are as nothing; I hope you will, in return, favour me with your best wishes.

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As to fome ftrange things you will find in the following journal; and a life, in various