by buying my book, recommending it to others, or giving it away to the poor; nay, or even fo much as for my tranflation to a better benefice in affembly or commiffion.

It startled me a little, that this conduct might perhaps, by evil-difpofed perfons, be represented as an approach to popery, and refembling their worshipping of faints: but I hope this can fcarcely be imputed to me, in the prefent cafe, fince you never were esteemed a faint while you lived, nor ever thirsted after that title.

Another more material objection occur. ed to me, That a dedication to a dead man, is either almoft, or altogether unprecedented. But I am not much concerned, though this method of proceeding should be thought bold and new, because this is the character which the incomparable Mr.

gives of his own effays upon the principles of morality and natural religion. Befides, I am not altogether deftitute of authority for the memorable Dean Swift has ufed the freedom to dedicate his Tale of a Tub to Prince Pofterity: I have also feen a fatirical poem, called Jure Divino, dedicated,

dedicated, with great folemnity, to Prince (or rather, I believe, to King) Reason. If, therefore, one of these authors might dedicate a book to a faculty of the human mind, and the other to an abstract idea, I hope it is no great prefumption in me to dedicate mine to you, though" in "statu mortuorum ;" efpecially as there is not a living man who hath fo good a claim to the compliment of a treatise upon my subject.

But a more gravelling difficulty than any of these kept me fome time in fufpenfe, viz. how to get the book prefented to you, as I did not find in myfelf any inclination to depart this life in order to transport it. After much trouble I was at length relieved, by reflecting, that Mr. Pope has affured us, that the ghofts of departed ladies always haunt the places in which they delighted while they were alive; and therefore, from analogy, it is to be fuppofed, that the fame thing holds with regard to departed minifters. If this is the cafe, I look upon it as certain, that your chief refidence is in the affembly-houfe at Edinburgh, where you have, in your life-time, both given and received fo much pleasure.

For

For though I will not limit you, in your unembodied ftate, from making circuits through the country, and visiting fynods, or prefbyteries, particularly in the M-fe and Gy, where there are so many men after your own heart; yet, I dare fay, you will not be abfent from the affembly, nor any of the quarterly meetings of the commiffion, which hath fo often faved the church from impending dangers.

It is therefore my purpose to go to Edinburgh in May next, when the affembly meets, of which I am a member, and there to lay before you my performance, hoping it will prove moft delicious and favoury to all your fenfes, to the names of which, and the manner of their prefent operation, I am wholly a stranger.

It is probable you have not been accuftomed, thefe two or three years paft, to hear your own praifes celebrated; and therefore I fhall no farther launch out into them than to fay, that there is not one branch of the character recommended in the following pages, in which you were not eminent; and that there never was one stone by you left unturned, for pro

moting the good caufe.That you may ftill fit upon the throne, and, by your powerful, though invifible influence, make the intereft of moderation prevail, is the ardent wifh, and the pious prayer of,

SIR,

Your moft obedient

and admiring Servant.

PRE

TO THE

SECOND EDITION.

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Ratitude obligeth me to acknowledge the kind reception which the world bath given to the following generous effort, for the honour of our church. This fhews, either that panegyric is by no means fo unacceptable to mankind in general, as fome ill-natured authors infinuate; or that this of mine hath been executed with very uncommon fkill. If this last should be the true folution, it would give me a double fatisfaction. However, as the love of detraction, in fome perfons, is incurable, and as many have fuch ulcerated minds, that there is no poffibility of applying to them, even in the fofteft and most friendly manner, without offending them; to prevent the Spreading of any fuch baleful influence, I think it proper to add a few things upon the Structure of this performance; part of which Should have accompanied the first edition, if it had not pleafed the publisher to print it without any communication with the author.

VOL. II.

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