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converts-of whom I am the least-and gave the first check to a most flourishing and admired wit of his time. After him followed diverse, -Sed non passibus æquis; they had more of fashion then force. And the reason of their so vast distance from him, besides differing spirits and qualifications-for his measure was eminentI suspect to be, because they aimed more at verse, then perfection, as may be easily gathered by their frequent impressions and numerous pages. Hence sprang those wide, those weak, and lean conceptions, which in the most inclinable Reader will scarce give any nourishment or help to devotion; for not flowing from a true, practick piety, it was impossible they should effect those things abroad, which they never had acquaintance with at home; being onely the productions of a common spirit, and the obvious ebullitions of that light humor, which takes the pen in hand, out of no other consideration, then to be seen in print. It is true indeed, that to give up our thoughts to pious themes and contemplations-if it be done for pietie's sake-is a great step towards perfection; because it will refine, and dispose to devotion and sanctity, And further, it will procure

1 Virgil, Aeneid, 2. 724. G.

for us so easily communicable is that loving Spirit-some small prelibation of those heavenly refreshments, which descend but seldom, and then very sparingly, upon men of an ordinary or indifferent holyness; but he that desires to excel in this kind of hagiography, or holy writing, must strive-by all means-for perfection and true holyness, that a door may be opened to him in heaven' [Rev. 4. 1.] and then he will be able to write-with Hierotheus1 and holy Herbert-a true hymn.

To effect this in some measure, I have begged leave to communicate this my poor talent to the Church, under the protection and conduct of her glorious Head: Who if He will vouchsafe to own it and go along with it—can make it as useful now in the publick, as it hath been to me in private. In the perusal of it, you will-peradventureobserve some passages, whose history or reason may seem something remote; but were they brought nearer, and plainly exposed to your view

1 Hierotheus is said to have been Bishop of Athens. Some of his hymns are mentioned by pseudo-Dionysius Areopagita. See Fabricius, Bibl. Græc. xi. 636 (ed Harles). In the life of Dionysius Areopagita by Symeon Metaphrastes (Dionys. Opera, ed. Paris, 1644, tom. ii., p. 325), H. is said to have been his instructor. G.

-though that perhaps might quiet your curiosity -yet would it not conduce much to your greater advantage. And therefore I must desire you to accept of them in that latitude, which is already alowed them. By the last poems in the book— were not that mistake here prevented—you would judge all to be fatherless, and the edition posthume; for-indeed-'I was nigh unto death '‚1 and am still at no great distance from it; which was the necessary reason for that solemn and accomplished dress, you will now finde this impression in.

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But the God of the spirits of all flesh" hath granted me a further use of mine then I did look for in the body; and when I expected, and had -by His assistance-prepared for a 'message of death', then did He answer me with life; I hope to His glory and my great advantage; that I may flourish not with leafe onely, but with some fruit also; which hope and earnest desire of His poor creature, I humbly beseech Him to perfect and fulfil for His dear Son's sake, unto Whom, with

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1 Philippians II. 30. G.

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finished, completed. Cf. Shakespeare's "is full accomplished" (Cymbeline V., 5.) G.

3 Numbers xvi., 22. G.

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Him and the most Holy and loving Spirit, be ascribed by angels, by men, and by all His works, all Glory, and Wisdom, and Dominion, in this the temporal and in the Eternal Being. Amen.

Newton by Usk, near Sketh-rock,
Septem. 30, 1654.

LORD, the hope of Israel, all they that forsake Thee shall be ashamed; and they that depart from Thee, shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for Thou art my health, and my great deliverer.

I said in the cutting off of my days, I shall go to the gates of the grave; I have deprived myself of the residue of my years.

I said, I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord in the Land of the living: I shall behold man no more with the inhabitants of the world.

O Lord! by Thee doth man live, and from Thee is the life of my spirit: therefore wilt Thou recover me, and make me to live.

Thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption; for Thou hast cast all my sins behind Thy back.

For Thy name's sake hast Thou put off thine anger; for Thy praise hast Thou refrained from me, that I should not be cut off.

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