THE PRE FAC E. T HE two former Parts being not unkindly receiv'd, have encourag'd me to this Third Attempt. The Subjects I have chosen are confiderable enough to appear. They bear a great Sway in the World; and the happy. iffues of Life depend very much upon our respective Behaviour. And when the Concern is of fuch weight, there muft of Course be Matter to fuggeft, and Reasons to prove it fo. And therefore if the Reader's ill entertain'd, the barrenness of the Author, and not of the Argument, is to answer for't. To be fomewhat particular: The Business of these Papers is to A 2 fupport i fupport our Spirits, to moderate our Cenfures, and our Paffions, and help us to keep our Feet where the Ground is most Slippery. 'Tis to direct the Critical Periods, and make the Motions of our Progrefs more steady, and prevent us from deftroying ourselves with the unwieldy management of our own Strength. 'Tis to keep us from fticking in the Surface of Things, from doting upon Pageantry, and fetting our Honour and our Confcience to Sale. I have likewife endeavoured to fhew the Difcredit, the Danger, and the Injustice of an Intemperate and Licentious Practice; to difcharge unneceffary Scruples, and difentangle a Cafe which feem'd fomewhat perplext: And lastly, to raife the Idea of Religion, and give a juft value to Things and Perfons, of the greatest Dignity and Con cern. In most of these Heads, I have -pitch'd upon the Form of a Dialogue; by this Fiction of a Conference, the Reader's Fancy is fometimes better engag'd, and the Impreffion goes deeper in his Memory. Besides, where a Question is to be argu'd on both sides, the Objections appear more naturally out of the Mouths of the contending Parties: And the Cause feems to have the fairer Tryal, when the Plaintiff and Defendant are in Court. However all Subjects won't fo well bear this Method, and therefore for this reason, and for the sake of Variety, some of them are treated in a continu'd Difcourfe. With regard to the additional Performance, I fhall only throw in a word or two concerning the Age and Character of the Authors tranflated. St. Cyprian was Bishop of Car- An Dom. thage 250. |
