1 away, whether we eat or drink, whether we fleep or wake, or whatever we do: Happy is be who fo improves it, as that be may jovfully hope to receive the heavenly Enjoyments of an endless Eternity. Ecelefiafticus chap. i. 2. as was Who can number the Sand of the Sea, and the Drops of Rain, and the Days of Eternity. Ecclefiafticus 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 enjoyment of that inestimable Treasure, Time, which this great Man so much wished for, let us carefully improve it, and not only read the Pfalms of David, and the Epistles of St. Paul, and other divine Writings, but let us diligently imprint and lodge them in the inward Receffes of the Heart, that so we may say, expreffed by a a divinely learned Man, I am ever leaft alone, when I am alone, ever least Idle, when I seem to be Idle, infomuch that with my continual reading and meditating, my Breast is made the Library of Christ. Several Persons seem to wonder that I should publish a book, and some others conclude, that it is done for worldly Profit; and therefore I think, it is necessary to speak a few Words relating thereto; and this I can with Sincerity Jay, That the Omniscient God, the true Difcerner of the most 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 zo my Children and Family after my Decease: But baving lent it to fome whom I really believe to be Lovers of Piety and Virtue, they very often said it might be useful, if made publick, particularly for Youth, and for others who had not much Time to spare for reading, nor Money to lay out for large Volumes. It afterwards came into the Hands of several Clergymen, Merchants, &c. who confidering my Application and Intention, have very much encouraged its Publica : tion, some of them having heard me repeat for several Hours, from Time to Time, those and such like Things as are contained in this Book. But as too many in the World are inclid'd to Detraction, this they may say is an Air of Vanity, but I humbly hope it rather proceeds from a grateful sense of the Goodness of God whose great and innumerable Mercies cannot be sufficiently acknowledged, who in this World is of fo difcerning a Thought, as to distinguish the happy from the unhappy, is it the rich, the great, or the honourable that are fo? or is it the poor, the distress'd, the despis'd, that are miserable? No, the poor Man who endeavours to discharge his Duty, having a fure Confidence in God, enjoys an inconceiveable Tranquility in the midst of the greatest Dangers and Distres-fes, so the rich Man enjoying all the good Things in this World, cannot be truly happy, without living in the Fear and Love of that God who for wife reafons makes fome Rich and others Poor. If they who think themselves Poor would make use of Confideration, they will find that they receive innumerable Blessings from the Hand of God, which are too frequently pass'd by unregarded, which should excite their Love and Gra-titude 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 Judg•ments, and bis Ways past finding out. It would be well done of Parents to encourage their Children to imprint and lay up divine Treasure in their Heart by giving them Rewards for fo doing. Solomon faith, wife Men lay up Knowledge, and in another Place, when. Wisdom entereth into thine Heart, and Knowledge is pleasant to thy Soul, Difcretion shall preferve thee, Understanding shall keep thee. Give Instruction to a wife Man, and he will be yet wifer: Teach a just Man, and he will encrease in Learning. If thou be wise thou shalt be wife for thyself; but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. The Fear of the Lord, that is Wisdom, and to depart from Evil is Undertanding. A3 = - Evopn is be who fo yache to receive Ewen fan males Eternity. Who can number the ane Trops of Rain, and the Davor Sam Smito. As a Drop es, and gave Scone in com. Years to the Application its Publica tion, some of them having heard me repeat for feveral Hours, from Time to Time, those and fuch like Things as are contained in this Book. But as too many in the World are inclia'd to Detraction, this they may say is an Air of Vanity, but I bumbly kope it rather proceeds from a grateful sense of the Goodness of God whose great and innumerable Mercies cannot be fufficiently acknowledged, who in this World is of fo difcerning a Thought, as to distinguish the happy from the unhappy, is it the rich, the great, or the honourable that are fo? or is it the poor, the distress'd, the despis'd, that are miserable? No, the poor Man who endeavours to discharge his Duty, baving 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 Love of that God who for wife reaJons makes fome Rich and others Poor. If they who think themselves Poor would make use of Confideration, they will find that they receive innumerable Blessings from the Hand of God, which are too frequent y pafsd by unregarded, which should excite their Love and Gra-titude 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 Judgments, and bis Ways past finding out. It would be well done of Parents to encourage their Children to imprint and lay up divine Treasure in their Heart by gioing them Rewards for fo doing. Solomon faith, wife Men lay up Knowledge, and in another Place, when Wisdom entereth into thine Heart, and Knowledge is pleasant to thy Soul, Discretion shall preferve thee, Understanding shall keep thee. Give Instruction to a wife Man, and he will be yet wiser: Teach a just Man, and he will encrease in Learning. If thou be wife thou shalt be wife for thyself; but of thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. The Fear of the Lord, that is Wisdom, and to depart from Evil is Under A3 ftanding. This Book contains about 120 Questions and Answers, 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 some Verses annex'd, and a concise Account of fome of our most remarkable Archbishops and Bishops of this Kingdom, whose Names greatly deserve to be perpetuated to Posterity, for their constant and indefatigable Perseverance in Discharge of their Duty. Whoever reads the following Pages, I hope will favourably confider the Intention, and generously excuse the Performance, and forbear to cenfure what they fee amifs; and that it may give some 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. Please, gentle Reader, to accept of this, Be not, my Friend, to Calumny inelin'd, find, E ach Page to be amusing to thy Mind; } } 1 CON |