MATHEHALE O Miles Capitali CONTEMPLATIONS Robert AND Awrnest. In Two Parts. By Sir MATTHEW HALE, Knight ; late Chief Justice of the Kings-Bench. IMPRIMATUR. Antonius Saunders, Reverendissimo Dno, Domino Gilberto Archiepisc. Cant. à Sacris Domesticis. LONDON, Printed for William Shrowsbury at the Bible in Duck lane ; Dan. Midwinter and Tho. Leigh at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-yard, 1699. 747. fi 707 H E Author of these Writings is a person of great Learning, great Judgment, and Wisdom, and of great Virtue and Piety. He hath written divers learn ed and compleat Works upon other Subjects; but for these Writings bere published, they were written, as were also many others of the like nature, ex tempore, and upon this occasion; 'It hath been bis custom for many years, every Lord'soday in the Afternoon, after Evening Sermon (between that and Sup'per time) to employ his Thoughts upon several Subjects of Di vine. Contemplations: and as things came into his Thoughts, lo be put them into Writing: which be did for these two Reasons,. : '1. That he might the more fix his Thoughts, and keep them from diversion and wandring. 2. That they might remain, and 'not be lost by forgetfulness or other interventions. And as this was the occasion and manner of his writing them, so this, doubtless, was all that he intended in them, unless moreover to communicate them to bis Children or some particular Friends in private upon occasion: but for publishing them, cein tainly he had not the least thoughts of any such thing, much less bath be revised them for that purpose; nor so much as read over Some of them since he wrote them; nor indeed so much as finished some of them. Nay so far was he from any thoughts of publishing them, that when he was importuned but to give his content to the Publication of them, he could not be prevailed with to do it. And therefore that they are now published, the Rrailir must know that they are published not only in tkeir native and primoges nial fimplicity, but without so much as the Author's priviry to it. And thus much I thought my self obliged, even in justice to the Author, to acquaint the Reader with, anel ingenuously to acknowledge, and take upon my self the fault, it any thing less perfect and compleat, or any wise liable to exceprion, Fall espa pear in these Papers, seeing they were neither written with any intention to be published, nor revised by the Author, nor are published with his Knowledge. But this again on the other side obligeth me to render fome account of my doing herein. I confils, I ajfrou not the thing 3 10 |