PREFA C E.

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in all that variety of Changes which pass over them, which, from whatever Cause they spring, muft work for their good, and produce their Encrease in the Growth of those Graces which constitute that Holiness without which no Man fhall fee the LORD. Weak Chriftians must frequently be at a Lofs to get at the Author's Meaning and as to thofe who are Strangers to Gon and themselves; the Whole must appear an ingenious entertaining Something, to which they can fix no Meaning.

A Key that will unlock the Myftery of this entertaining Book, and open all its Inftructions to every Clafs of Readers; must be confidered as a defirable Object: for 'tis a Pity that ferious godly Perfons, who read the Book for Inftruction, fhould mifs any Portion which our Author defigns

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figns to give them: and it is equally a Pity that those who read it only as an entertaining Tale, fhould be fuffered to lay it down, without an Opportunity being offered them of Profit, as well as Pleasure. Such a Key is attempted in the following Sheets : how far the Writer has fucceeded, he leaves others to judge; he has done what he could, and as GoD works by Means, and it is our Duty to use probable Means in promoting the best Interefts of Men, he hopes that his Endeavours will not be in vain. If the Pilgrim has been an edifying Companion, even while he puzzled his Readers, may we not hope he will be more fo, when more plainly understood.

The Editions the Pilgrim's Progress has paffed through, are very numerous, all of them furnished with

very brief Notes; and a few Texts of Scripture in the Margin, which give a little Affistance to the Reader, yet fo little as leaves him almost where they find him.

In the Year 1776, an Edition was published with brief Notes to illustrate the more difficult Paffages of the Pilgrim's Progress; these Notes are of confiderable Ufe and Help to the Reader, and the Author of them deserves Praise and Thanks for his pious Labour of Love: they do not however preclude the Neceffity, and Ufefulness of an Attempt to explain the Allegory more fully. That Annotator does not pretend to be positive that he has always taken up the Thought the Author had upon his Mind at the Time of Writing, though he thinks there are few Places in which he is in Danger of greatly miffing it. He hopes that he has

propofed no Illustration, but what will be found agreeable to the Analogy of Faith, and the Experience of Believers. This candid and humble Declaration, perfuades the Author of the following Sheets to believe, the Annotator will not be offended with him for attempting to carry the Work of Explanation still farther on, and will permit him without grudging, to avail himself of his excellent and pious Notes, for that Purpose.

In the Year 1778, another Edition of the Pilgrim appeared, with Notes explanatory, experimental and practical, by Mr. MASON, but neither does that Edition preclude the Usefulness of this Attempt. It is alfo acknowledged here, that the Notes of that Edition have fuggefted feveral of the Thoughts, which have been dilated in the following Pages.

The

The Mode of Explanation adopted here, is that of a Series of Letters to a Friend: this Mode is preferred to writing Notes upon the Text, as it gives a larger Scope to dilate on the important Topics of Christian Profeffion and Experience, alluded to in the Allegory: it alfo offers its Help to those Persons who are poffeffed of any Edition of the Pilgrim's Progrefs, without putting them to the Expence of purchafing another.

May the Prince and Forerunner of Pilgrim's travelling to Mount Zion, fmile on this feeble Attempt to assist his Followers, and may they kindly accept the Affiftance offered them by one who loves their Prince; and being himself a Pilgrim of confiderable Date, having trod much of the Path, and being perhaps near the End of it; can fpeak much from Experience, in ex