T^he Epijile Dedicatory. .- 

 publick Acknowledgment, which fuch a Dedica- 

 tion gives me an Opportunity to make. Thirdly^ 

 Becaufe of fuch kind of Writings I know not 

 where to chufe a more able Judge or more can-; 

 did Reader. I am fenfible that you do fo much 

 abhor any thing that looks like Flattery, tha 

 out of an Excefs of Modefty, you cannot pat 

 ently bear the hearing of your own juft Commen- 

 dations J and therefore (hould I enlarge upon that 

 Subjed:,, Linow I ffcould have but little Thanks 

 for my Pains. ' 



Indeed you have much better Motives to do 

 well than the Praife of Men, the Favour of God, 

 Peace of Confcience, the Hope and Expectation 

 of a future Reward oi eternal Happi7iej5', znd 

 therefore I had rather write of you to others, to 

 provoke them to imitate fo excellent an Example, 

 than to your felf, to encourage you in your Chri- 

 ftian Courfe^ and to fortify you in your athletick 

 Conflids with the greateft of temporal Evils, 

 bodily Pain and Anguifhj tho' I do not know 

 why you fliould rejed: any Confideration that 

 may conduce to fupport you under fo heavy 

 Preffures, and of fo long Continuance ; of whictv 

 to ingenious Nature?, true. HQnour,, that is, the 

 current Teftimony and Approbation of good 

 Men, is not the meaneft'. No lefs Man than 

 St. Augujlin was doubtful whether the E^xtremity 

 of bodily Pain were not the greateft > Evil that 

 human Nature was capable of fuffei'ing 5 Nay 

 (faith "he) / was Jbmetimes compelVd to'honjhit to 

 C'ornelius Cdfus, /to 7^ %\as:Jo\ neither did hi% 

 % - K- Jleajom 



