THE

PREFACE

Th

HE Book and the Defign, which gave Occafion to these Papers, are fo well known to those who have troubl'd themselves to know any thing of them, that I have no Occafion to prepoffeß the Reader with any Opinion concerning them, in Order to his more favourable Acceptance of my own Work:

But I think my self oblig'd to give bim fome Account of what I have attempted, and what I may prefume to have done; the rather because through frequent

In

falls much fhort of its Title; but in hopes that the Title will recommend the Discourse to Your Grace's Countenance and ProteEtion.

My Lord, the Immortality of the Soul, is not only the Common Principle of natural and reveal'd Religion; but has given Rife to all thofe great Actions, which make the most agreeable Figure in ancient Hiftory. Cowardice, or Proftituted Honour was the evil Genius that haunted the Atheistic Commander, thro' all bis Succeffes: But the Vertuous Hero always enterprig'd upon this noble Principle, which never fail'd him in the last Extremity; but where

ever entertaind (especially in a
great Mind) added Wifdom to
every Debate, Firmness to the best
Refolution, and a becoming Re-
gularity to Valour it felf. Indeed
the Luftre of it is every where
charming to our untaught Reason,
and we cannot but admire fome-
thing in the fatal Mifapplicati-
ons of a Cato and a Brutus.
But, my Lord, it must be con-
fefs'd the Principle was fhame-
fully deferted by the greatest Pre-
tenders to it, amongst the Greci-
ans and Romans. Their chief
Characters were rais'd upon a
boundless Ambition, fupported by
Oppreffion and Rapine, and finish'd
with Blafphemy.

Whe

Whether this was a mistaken, or only a counterfeit View of Immortality in them, fure the Chriftian Hero can neither pretend a doubtful Light, nor an uncertain Way. He has plainly before him the shortest way to Glory, both markt out and fenc'd by a Divine Hand. And if he is not guided by the Light afforded Him, he must but his Eyes against it.

Christianity having laid this Solid Foundation for Magnanimi ty, as well as all other Vertues, it cannot but occafion an unusual Horror in our Minds, when, at the fame time, we behold fuch an One, who wou'd be efteem'd both

Hero