Publisher thinking fit to acquaint the Reader that the Function he is engaged in not allowing him Time fufficient for Such a Work, he was willing to devolve it upon another, who he thinks has a better Talent that way. Nor was this his onely Motive of employing that Perfon in it, but as the Prince of Conti's Treatise against Plays was a Satisfaction which bis former Faults in some Sort required, and a kind of Reparation he was willing to make to the Publick, for the great Evil he had done and might have caus'd by his Example; fo that Perfon having formerly given several Plays to the Stage, which tho perhaps as innocent in themselves as any that have appeared there, yet as they help to engage Persons in a criminal Diversion, to the great hazard of their Salvation, and contributed to the Support of a Place which is a main Instrument of the Devil for the infnaring of Souls; the Publisher was glad of an Occasion of putting into that Persons hands the means of making some Reparation to the Publick by the Translation of these Treatises againft the Stage, for the Evil they may have done in giving some Alfistance to it.

It remains now to say something of the short Account of the Prince's Life prefix'd to his Works. The Publisher was in hopes to have found the Life of a Person so eminent both for his Piety and his Rank, as the Prince of Conti, writ by Some able Person, and it were to be wished that the Bishop of Alet, or L' Abbe Ciron his Spiritual Director had done it, who were both no doubt well acquainted with his Interiour State as well as his Exteriour Life and Actions.

But all that could be met with of this kind is an Abstract of his Life prefix'd to the Defence of his Treatise of b Plays.

Plays. It might have been expected that Mons. Voisin, the Author of it, who belong'd to the Prince more than twenty years, and accompany'd him in all his Progresles, and his greater Pmployments, would have been full and particular in his Relation of him.

But he tells us, He look'd upon this as an Attempt fuperiour to his Abilities, and therefore contents himself with giving a bare Abstract; from which and some few other Memoirs this Account of the Prince's Life is drawn, which the Reader is here presented with. It does not indeed con

tain many things of this Great Man, yet enough to give us Some Idea of him; for as a Tree is known by his Fruit, To the few things there related of him, serve to shew us what his Interiour was, and difcover the Principle and Root from whence they sprang, and there are some Confiderations on which we hope it may be of Use to the Reader.

Therefore many, who are greatly prejudiced against such Books and Lives as are called Spiritual or Mystick, because they think they tend to carry People wholly to Devotion and an Interiour way,