THE 



PREFACE. 



COURTEOUS READER, 



LET me manuduct you through the slender mar- 

 gin of my uncultivated book, to contemplate the 

 evangelical sweets of reason and religion, two re- 

 quisite and necessary principles for a Christian. 

 For since it hath pleased God, through infinite 

 mercy, to breathe into man a rational soul, where- 

 by he was made lord of all the creation, to govern 

 and conduct the creatures committed to his charge, 

 with respect of duty to his Sovereign Creator : 

 this capacitates man to act prudentially ; for im- 

 prudent actions proceed from rashness, and the 

 inconsiderate poize of reason. So to be religious, 

 ifs the Christian's corona, that enables him to 

 contemplate his present state and future felicity : 

 Which to accomplish, he must cruciate himself 

 with his thoughts and his lusts, and atrip himself 

 of all imaginary vanities, to ruminate how the 



