away, whether we eat or drink, whether we fleep or wake, or whatever we do: Happy is he who fo improves it, as that he may joyfully hope to receive the beavenly Enjoyments of an endless Eternity. Ecclefiafticus chap. i. 2. Who can number the Sand of the Sea, and the Drops of Rain, and the Days of Eternity. Ecclefiaflicus xviii. 10. As a Drop of Water unto the Sea, and a gravel Stone in comparison of the Sand, fo are a thousand Years to the Days of Eternity. And therefore while we have the anjoyment of that ineftimable Treafure, Time, which this great Man fo much wished for, let us carefully improve it, and not only read the Pfalms of David, and the Epifiles of St. Paul, and other divine Writings, but let us diligently imprint and lodge them in the inward Receffes of the Heart, that fo we may fay, as was expreffed by a divinely learned Man, I am ever leaft alone, when I am alone, ever leaft Idle, when I feem to be Idle, infomuch that with my continual reading and meditating, my Breaft is made the Library of Chrift. Several Perfons feem to wonder that I should publish a book, and fome others conclude, that it is done for worldly Profit; and therefore I think, it is neceffary to speak a few Words relating thereto; and this I can with Sincerity Jay, That the Omniscient God, the true Difcerner of the moft fecret Intents of the Heart, knows it was done without any mercenary View, or Regard to any worldly Advantage whatsoever, but for my own internal Satisfaction and Comfort, frequently pleafing myself with the Thoughts of its being useful to my Children and Family after my Deceafe: But baving lent it to fome whom I really believe to be Lovers of Piety and Virtue, they very often faid it might be useful, if made publick, particularly for Youth, and for others who had not much Time to pare for reading, nor Money to lay out for large Volumes. It afterwards came into the Hands of feveral Clergy men, Merchants, &c. who confidering my Application and Intention,bave very much encouraged its Publica tion, fome of them having heard me repeat for several Hours, from Time to Time, thofe and fuch like Things as are contained in this Book. But as too many in the World are inclin'd to Detraction, this theg may say is an Air of Vanity, but I humbly hope it rather proceeds from a grateful fenfe of the Goodness of God whofe great and innumerable Mercies cannot be fufficiently acknowledged, who in this World is of fo difcerning a Thought, as to diflinguish the happy from the unhappy, is it the rich, the great, or the bonourable that are fo? or is it the poor, the diftrefs'd, the defpis'd, that are miserable? No, the poor Man who endeavours to difcharge his Duty, having a fure Confidence in God, enjoys an inconceiveable Tranquility in the midst of the greatest Dangers and Diftref fes, fo the rich Man enjoying all the good Things in this World, cannot be truly happy, without living in the Fear and Live of that God who for wife reafons makes fome Rich and others Poor. If they who think themselves Poor would make ufe of Confideration, they will find that they receive innumerable Bleffings from the Hand of God, which are too frequently pass'd by unregarded, which fhould excite their Love and Gratitude to him from whom all good Things do proceed. O the depth of the Riches both of the Wisdom and Knowledge of God, how unfearchable are his fudgments, and bis Ways paft finding out. It would be well done of Parents to encourage their Children to imprint and lay up divine Treafure in their Heart by giving them Rewards for fo doing. Solomon faith, wife Men lay up Knowledge, and in another Place, when Wifdom entereth into thine Heart, and Knowledge is pleasant to thy Soul, Difcretion fhall preferve thee, Understanding fhall keep thee. Give Inftruction to a wife Man, and he will be yet wifer: Teach a juft Man, and he will encrease in Learning. If thou be wife thou shalt be wife for thyfelf; but if thou fcorneft, thou alone fhalt bear it. The Fear of the Lord, that is Wifdom, and to depart from Evil is Understanding A 3 ine, wheter we fleep MEST t age to receive sei rear Trop of Run, and the Jame, Seng to. As a Drop Free Scone in comMI'S & Years to the Aging age we have the me memes faire, Time, which bus in, let as carefully asian of David, Juster Esin Wriserent and luge them in de but i we may say, Sau erai Maz, I am m done, ever lent Idle, Na mimic the with my wing my treat is made Sara Berias ftem to miume others ag Prift; and Regard NOIRE LABerner, but for my in ma Immfirt, frequently Saga of Tra being useful **Dectage: But desce to be Lo a ves vfitz faid it mic, particularly for - 22 Nam me Time to spare Fin large Volumes. ཝ་དག །མི༔ མ craã Clrgys Suring my Application wei its Publica tion. [v] tion, fome of them having heard me repeat for feveral A 3 ftanding. This Book contains about 120 Questions and Anfwers, which may be useful in Conversation; and many remarkable Sayings of wife and learned Men. There are Texts of Scripture which I have collected out of the Holy Bible, on above thirty different Heads, with fome Verfes annex'd, and a concife Account of fome of our most remarkable Archbishops and Bishops of this Kingdom, whofe Names greatly deferve to be perpetuated to Pofterity, for their conftant and indefatigable Perfeverance in Difcharge of their Duty. Whoever reads the following Pages, 1 hope will favourably confider the Intention, and generously excufe the Perfoxmance, and forbear to cenfure what they fee amifs; and that it may give fome Satisfaction to the Reader, is the bearty and fincere Defire of him who willingly would be ferviceable, if it were in his Power. I am your most Obedient, Humble Servant, PETER BRETT. P leafe, gentle Reader, to accept of this, Be not, my Friend, to Calumny inelin'd, E ach Page to be amufing to thy Mind; |