TO THE

Right HONOURABLE CHARLES Lord Viscount Townshend;

Baron and High STEWARD of Lyn

Regis, Lord-Lieutenant of the County of
NORFOLK, one of his MAJESTY's
Principal Secretaries of STATE, and one
of his most Honourable Privy Council.

A

Rocli muw, 12-26-39

My Lord,

*S the free Use of the

Holy Scriptures in the
Hands of all sorts of
People, after a long

and pernicious Restraint, was what gave Life and

Birth 144112

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Birth to the Protestant Religion; so our Endeavours to render them as, intelligible to all Capacities, as pofsibly we can, is the best Means to preserve and improve the Remains of its true Spirit and Purity amongst us.

When, with this sincere View, , I had resolved to cast my poor Mite into a Treasury, already so enriched by the Pens of learned Men, it was no small Encouragement to me, that I had not far to look for an Honourable Patron, under whose secure Protection I might presume to offer it to the World. One, whom Europe knows to be an Englishman, upon Maxims truly English; and a Church of England Man, upon the everlasting Foundation of the Scriptures and the Reformation.

To

To these Principles so highly valuable, We owe

unshaken Endeavours of Your Lordship for the Protestant Interest in general, and that of Great Britain in particular.

the many

The Part You had in Uniting our Island, into one uniform and happy Government, will now unite Men of all Sentiments in acknowledging it, as a lasting Monument of Your Wisdom.

I will not presume to take upon Me, to describe, in their proper Lights, the Candour and unalterable Integrity that appeared in all Your Publick Negotiations; when, justly esteemed worthy to act in Concert with the most consummate General and Statesman, You naturally attracted the entire Confidence of all the High Allies;

causing

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causing it to center in the Plenipotentiaries of Great Britain.

The Treaty of Succeffion and Barrier is now its own Vindication; since the peaceable and quiet Accession of our Glorious Proteftant King to his Throne, cannot but put all considering Men in Remembrance, in how great a Degree this desirable Event was owing to Your steady Zeal for this Succession, to the Councils You were actuated by, with such Foresight and Constancy, as render'd You superior to Calumnies and Reproaches, to Threats and Promises, and even the worst Examples. And that We have lived to see all Occasions of Trembling for our Ark taken away, will surely convince us all of the Obligations We have to those who have suffer'd in so great a Cause ; and may it sit close and long upon the

Hearts