Printed by J. COTTON, and J. EDDOWES;
And fold by J. BUCKLAND, at the Buck, in Pater-nofter-Row z
T. FIELD, at the Wheat-Sheaf, the Corner of Pater-nofter-Row,
Cheapfide; and E. DILLY, at the Rofe and Crown, in the Poultry

LONDON.

MDCCLXI.

[Price ftitch'd Is.]

BIBL

THE

PREFACE

BY THE

COMPILER of this ABRIDGMENT.

IN

N the following Pages the Reader will find none of the Triumphs peculiar to Martyrdom, nor any of thofe Extafies which have diftinguished fome particular Chriftians on their dying Beds. Such extraordinary Cafes rather excite our joyful Surprize, than are Patterns for our Imitation.

The Dying Thoughts of Mr. Baxter chiefly prefent to our View what every Christian may attain, and what it is the highest Intereft, as well as the indifpenfible Duty of every Chriftian to afpire after. See, bere,

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here, his Doubts and Fears in the Profpect of Eternity; tho' he had spent a long Life in exemplary Holiness, and in great Nearnefs to God and Heaven. See his feawoufies over his own Heart, and anxious Concern to difcover its Sincerity; together with his Jober Appeals and earnest Attention to every Dictate of Reafon and Scripture, in Order to eftablish his Mind and Confcience in a well-grounded Peace. See, alfo, his unwearied Striving with God and his own Soul, to have every Grace in vigorous Exercife. All these are well-known Ingredients of the Christian Temper; and therefore tend, not to perplex and difcourage, but to counfel, ftrengthen and com, ort ferious Readers, while they difcern, in one of Mr. Baxter's exalted Attainments, the fame Conflicts, Complaints, and Defires, which fill their own Breafts.

'Tis obferved of that Noble Lord, William Ruffell, who dyed a Martyr for the Liberty of his Country, that a little before his Death, by a trufty Messenger, he fent Mr. Baxter his hearty Thanks for his dying Thoughts, Which, fays he, have "made

"made me better acquainted with the other World, than I was before; and have "not a little contributed to my Support and Relief, and to the fitting me for what I am to go through.”

Tho' the Dying Thoughts were written about Forty Years after the Saints Reft, yet both are evidently built on the fame Principles, and are animated by the fame Spirit. And let it fuffice to add, that the Abridgment of both is conducted in the fame

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B. FAWCETT.