that may reasonably be expected in this Cafe. So that none but an unbelieving Sadducee or a prophane Atheift, will offer to question the Reality. To confirm the Poffibility and Truth of fome Apparitions, none can deny, that by this Means our Good GoD bath conveyed and confirmed to us feveral of the Mysteries of our Holy Religion; as the Conception, Birth, Incarnation, Refurrection, and glorious Afcenfion of our Great Meffiah, by the Apparitions of Angels. And how often those heavenly Spirits were formerly visible in human Shapes, for the Advantage, Information and Safeguard of the Pious, the Word of GOD fufficiently declares. Now, as we live in fuch an incredulous Age, that will not believe GOD, and his Divine Oracles, tho' attefted by the Working of Miracles, concerning the future State of the Righteous and Wicked, but requires a new Teftimony and Evidence, as the Return of Souls from the Dead, to witnefs the Happiness of Heaven, the Torments of Hell, and the Immortality of the Soul: Who knows, but to render Men more inexcufable, GoD may condefcend that a departed Soul, or its good Angel in its Stead, may appear to declare thefe infallible and undoubted Truths to an unbelieving World? But we find by Experience, as in this Cafe, that this Kind of Evidence is far more liable to Exceptions, to be contradicted and rejected, as uncertain and fabulous, and fooner than the facred Methods that our Wife GOD bath taken to perfuade Men to the Divine Doctrines of our Salvation: As Abraham declares in the Parable of the rich Glutton, condemned to the Flames of Hell, If they will not believe Mofes and the Prophets; we may with more Reafon add, if they will not believe CHRIST, and his holy Apoftles, and so many wonderful Miracles attefting GOD's Omnipotency, and Revelations from above, neither will they be perfuaded, though one rofe from the Dead. I must here acquaint my Reader, That whereas in the former Impreffions of this Book, fome Errata have escaped, whereby the Author's Senfe and Meaning may not be fo clearly expreffed as in the Original: And whereas also upon fome Subjects, our Reverend Author diftaftes the Reader by too frequent Repetitions in his Prayers, containing Matters and Arguments of the foregoing Chapters: Thefe and fuch trivial Objections have caufed feveral Perfons to find Fault not only with the Tranflation, but even the very Book itself. To remedy therefore any thing of this Nature, and to prevent all Complaints of this Kind, and that fo excellent and useful a Treatife may appear in our own proper and natural Language, not differing in any thing material from the French Copy; but fuited as much as conveniently it may be to the nicer Palates of of our prefent Age; I have in this Edition taken the Pains to compare this Tranflation with a Book printed at Berlin, the Court of the King of Pruffia, 1698. I have been in this more exact, and have altered fome Words and Phrases, expreffing more plainly the Author's Meaning, and in Terms more agreeable with our prefent familiar way of Speaking. Befides, in this Edition of Berlin, I have met with two or three Paffages which are not in the former French Impreffions, and which I judged not convenient to be omitted. Some of the Prayers that seemed too prolix, I have abbreviated A 4 abbreviated, comprehending only the principal Matters. And that nothing may be wanting in this Edition, that might more contribute to the Reader's Satisfaction, I have here rendered in English the last remarkable Paffages of this pious and excellent Minifter of CHRIST, never before Printed in our own Tongue, as we find them at the End of the forementioned Book: That you may bere at once, as in a Mirror, fee the Behaviour, religious Speeches, Faith, Patience, and Refignation to the Will of God, of our Reve rend Divine at his Deceafe, reduced into Practice, according to the excellent Advices and Confolations that he recommends to us, to arm ourfelves against the Apprehenfions and Approaches of Death. ན་ I have no more to add; But I beseech our merciful and heavenly Father to grant us all the Grace, the like Faith, and Christian Resolution, that we may not fear Death nor its Confequences; but may be always ready prepared and provided to embrace it with Joy and Submiffion to the Pleasure of GOD and the Decrees of Heaven, whenever our Almighty Creator and Redeemer fhall think fit to fummon us, and take us to himself. Amen. M. D. T HIS Book in the Original hath been fo well approved of by all Perfons, though of different Judgments in Religion, that it hath been about twenty Times Printed in France, befides what hath been done in Holland, and elsewhere, in other Languages: It is of very great Ufe to Divines for Funeral Sermons; and is very fit to be given away by well-difpofed Perfons at Funerals, and of excellent Ufe to every Christian Reader. |