encumbrances, to the end he may the more 

 freely attend unto divine contemplations (for 

 worldly goods, duly ufed,may be very advan- 

 tagious both to ones felfe and to others) yet at 

 the leaft, he will not repine at Fortnnes recal- 

 ling of what fhe formerly had but lent him, 

 and but permitted him the ufe of. 



To the end then that you may be armed a- 

 gainft the worft that may arrive unto you, 

 .in this unhappy ftate of affaires, in our di- 

 ftreffed Country ; I fend you thole confidera- 

 tions of the nature and Immortality of hu- 

 mane foules, which of late, have been my 

 chiefe entertainment. The progrefle you have 

 already made in the ftudy of Phylofophie, 

 hath (I am perfwaded) enabled you to bene- 

 fit your felfe, with what I have written upon 

 this iubject : on the ferious examining of 

 which , if you will employ but half the time, 

 that I have done in fpinning out my thoughts, 

 and weaving them into the piece you fee, I 

 doubt not but you will thereby receive fb 

 much contentment, as well as profit, that you 

 will not repent you of your paines. Befides 

 that, intelledtuall entertainments are the pu- 

 reft, and the nobleft, and the moft proporti- 



A 2 onate 



