ed to him, as well thofe entrusted to the Rev. Mr as those that should be found in his repofitories after his death, giving me leave to do with them what I had a mind. Soon after another large parcel was fent me by his heir and executor. He had originally given the manufcript the title of, An account of the life and death of a young gentleman, who lately died in But after correcting and enlarging it, he prefixed the title the book now bears, with a dedication and preface. The account which he had feveral years ago favoured me with a reading of, was not near fo full, ended with the death of Mr T- -S, and had the two letters that were afterwards published, with my permiffion, in a monthly Magazine, annexed, under the title of Extracts of two letters, &c. In his travels he picked up the materials of what he calls the fecond, third, and fourth parts. He wrote the first and fecond parts in one volume; and the third and fourth in another, under the title of Memoirs of feweral perfons of both fexes. And he tells me in his letter, that if Providence had fpared his life fome months longer, he intended to have added a fifth and fixth part, under the fame title as the third and fourth, from a variety of extracts and letters, which he has fent me wrapped in two parcels, one entitled, Anecdotes and biftories for the fifth part of the Memoirs, and, Anecdotes, &c. for the fixth part. From the dedication and preface it would appear that the author intended this work for the prefs. On perufal of the four parts, all written with his own hand, and of the materials of the other two, I could not refift the inclination I for a long time have had, to favour the world with fo valuable a treasure of Christian knowledge and experience; and cannot but felicitate myfelf on being the happy inftrument of publishing a work which natively tends to recommend vital piety and serious religion, in the most pathetic terms, to a world lying in wickedness; and I am fure that the fole view of the writer and publifher is thereby to promote the glory of God, and illuftrate his fovereign and effi. cacious grace in the falvation of finners. As the whole work will confift of three handsome volumes, volumes, I have allowed only the firft volume to come abroad at firit, refolving, it it fhall meet with the approbation of the friends of religion, as I can have no doubt but it will, the other two volumes fhall follow in due time, as I have now begun to compofe the fifth and fixth parts from the excellent materials afforded me. The author's preface is reserved for the second volume. It may not be improper to obferve with regard to Mr T—s, that while he lived in, he lodged in a retired place of the ciry; that his landlady was an ancient widow lady, very deaf, as was also her maid; and that they knew very little about him, except that he was fick, and apparently dying; that a few days before he was seized with his fatal fever, he gave out that he was foon to return to his own country; that falling fick in the middle of September, he languished till the beginning of April; that no body knew of his illness, or visited him, but his most intimate companions, except one gentleman, who a little before his death went to America; fo that his condition never be. came the fubject of public talk or fpeculation. After Mr Nu's departure to the country in the beginning of his illness, fome one of his companions was almoft conftantly with him. For my part, out of the endeared regard I had for the worthy gentleman, I ftaid many hours with him every day; and after Mr Nu's return, vifited him daily. I regret that I did not take down many excellent fpeeches and exhortations he delivered to me and others, which were not a whit inferior to those recorded in this volume. But though they are now irrecoverably loft, I am fure every ferious reader will blefs God for thofe here preferved, which cannot fail to have a happy influence on the interefts of piety, fo warmly recommended by the dying gentleman. I fhall only further take notice, that, according to my laft accounts, as well as by letters found among Mr Nu's papers, all Mr T -s's intimate com panions are yet alive, fettled in different places of the kingdom, and that they continue to fhew the warmest attachment to the caufe of religion, and to adorn their Christian profeffion by a holy converfation. The gentleman who defired to be prefent at Mr Ts's death, as related p. 246. fome years after took orders among the diffenters, and is now a very famous and fuccefsful preacher of the gospel. Mr Ts and his lady died about a twelvemonth ago. The fons are comfortably fettled, and the daughters married to their own relations, as has long been the custom of the family. Mr N- —u left each of them a legacy, as he did one to me. I can give no account of the gentleman and lady, nor the famous Mally, from whofe letters of correspondence he extracted the fecond part of the Memoirs, though it would appear I was acquainted with the lady when in a disguised habit. Nor can I give any account of the other persons who make a dif tinguished figure in the other parts, the author taking no notice where they lived. I fhall conclude with remarking, that whether all the initial letters of the names in thefe Memoirs are real or fictitious, as I believe they are of the latter character, the narrative is genuine, and intended, both by the author and editor, for the nobleft purposes, thofe of advancing the glory of God, and promoting the heft interefts of mankind, in oppofition to that levity and lewdness, and that deluge of wickedness and unconcern about eternity, which overwhelms the prefent age. And that it may be accompanied with the divine bleffing for the benefit of every reader, is the hearty prayer of June 10. 1767. The EDITOR. The Extract of a letter from a Clergyman in the country, dated June 17. 1767. I was intimately acquainted with the writer. of the following Memoirs. He was a gentleman of folid judgment, great knowledge, and fincere piety. He had for about fifteen years spent the fummer-feafon in vifiting all the noted towns in the kingdom, where he became acquainted with the most eminent clergymen, and the most judicious Chriftians of every denomination, especially thofe among the diffenters; with whom he maintained a religious correfpondence; fo that a week feldom paffed without his receiving and writing very large packets. In his travels he collected a great number of very inftructive anecdotes, many of which I have heard him repeat with great pleasure. Mr N-u had, from his infancy, been troubled with a weakness in the lungs, and of late years with a cough, which threatened a confumption. He was very fickly all the laft winter, and had the fentence of death in him. He then put the finishing hand to the first four parts of these Memoirs, and collected and arranged the materials of the fifth and fixth. He indulged me with a reading of the first four parts; which afforded me a moft rational and religious entertainment, as containing the best and most accurate account I had ever read of a work of conviction and conversion, of a life of faith, of the glorious difplays of grace in falvation, of the most forcible perfuafives to a religious life, and of the most joyful and triumphant death; together with a series of the moft ftriking anecdotes and entertaining hiftories, relating to the important interefts of mankind, that are to be found in any language. A little before his death, which happened in the beginning of laft month, he gave me the copy of thefe Memoirs, with a large parcel of papers, writings, and letters, to be conveyed to Dr M- to whom he left them in his will, to be difpofed of as that gentleman fhould think proper. His behaviour, on his deathbed was truly amiable and Chriftian,; and he died in sweet peace of mind, in the faith of being with the Lord for ever. After his interment, I tranfmitted the Memoirs, with all the other papers entrusted to me, to Dr M, earneftly defiring him to oblige the world with the publication of fo valuable a collection, that might be of great utility both to faints and finners. As he has complied with my importunate defire, I heartily pray the bleffing of God may attend the perufal of thefe excellent papers. CORRIGEND A. P. 1. 34. 9. for and calculated read or tended 49. 23. for worth read worthy 52. 18. for word read Spirit 53. 22. after man infert can 62. 18. read Because 64. 18. 19. for love-adventure read love-conversation 70. 28. read duty ult. read worshipping 75. I. read and 105. 32. for mean read means CON |