ingaging their Zeal (which was wont to be imployed to better Purposes) in hot Difputes about the Modes and Circumftances of her Worship; Ithought a Difcourfe of the Chriftian Life, which is the proper Sphere of Chriftian Zeal, might be a good Expedient to take men off from thofe dangerous Contentions which were kindled and are fed and blown by fuch as defign our common Ruine. For fure did our People throughly underftand what 'tis to be Chriftians indeed, and how much Duty that implies, they could never find fo much Leifure as they do to quarrel and wrangle about Trifles.

4

This, my Lord, is the fincere Defign of what I bere prefent to your Lordship; and however it may fucceed, I have this Satisfaction that I meant well, and have expreft my Good Will to this poor envied Church, whofe truly Primitive Conftitution, pure undefiled Religion, I shall always admire and reverence; and whatsoever her Fate may be, I am chain d

to her Fortunes by my Reafon and Conscience, and shall ever esteem it more eligible to be crusht by her Fall, which God avert, than to flourish and triumph on her Ruines.

But among the many ill Omens that threaten our Church, there is one which feems to prefage its Profperity, and that is, that fuch Eminent Stations in it as your Lordships, are fo excellently fupplied. For although whether, the Part you are defigned for, be to grace her Triumphs or her Funeral, is known only to the foveraign Difpofer of Events ; yet this, my Lord, all that wish well to our Church conclude, that God beftow'd You upon her as a Token of Love. For which they have fufficient Warrant even from the daily Experience they have of the Prudence and Vigilance of your Government, the Piety, Integrity, and Generofity of your Temper, of your invincible Loyalty to your Prince, your undaunted Zeal for the Reformed Re

ligion,

ligion, and your grave and obliging Deportment towards all you converfe with. Ifball trouble your Lordship no farther, but conclude this Addrefs with that which I am fure is the hearty Prayer of all your honeft Clergy, that the God of Heaven would long continue your Lordship a Blessing to the Church, and to this Diocefe, an Honour to your Sacred Order, and the Noble Stock you defcend from; and if what I here present prove but fo profperous as to do fome good in the World, and obtain your Lordship's Acceptance, it will be a noble Compenfation of this well-meant Endeavour. I am,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's moft Humble and moft Obedient Servant,

JOHN SCOTT.

I

SHALL not trouble the Reader with a long Apology for the Publication of the enfuing Treatife, though

I might plead (as other Authors do) the Importunity of Friends, whofe Judgments I very much reverence. For, to fay the Truth, I do by no means think that in an Affair of this Nature it is fafe or fit for a man to be over-born by the perfwafions of those whofe Judgments he hath juft caufe to fufpect may be brib'd by their Friendships. And therefore had I not hoped that in fuch an Age as this, (wherein through our own Divifions and Debaucheries, both in Opinion and Practice, and the hellish Contrivances of our Enemies, we have fuch a dismal Profpect of things be fore us) these Papers might be of some Use to Religion and the Souls of men, I would never have troubled the World with them; but hoping they might, I have ventured upon that reafon to publish them.