*

To the Rev. Mr. John Ryland of Northampton.

Reverend Sir,

THE

HE care, fkill, and unwearied ardour with which you pursue that great, and important employment, the Education of Youth, induce you to attend to every method of iuftruc tion, and carefully to explore every way of accefs to the human Mind.

It is therefore the highest Reason, and most happy Difcernment, that determines you, while you are pursuing the cultivation and improvement of those noble intelligent Powers of the Soul, the Reason, Understanding, and Judgment, not to neglect the Imagination and Fancy; thofe loose and lower faculties of the Mind: for well you know, that if these unfettled Rovers, are not provided for, they are fure to feek out for themselves, and will most certainly introduce fuch a profufion of all kinds of vanity, as will engage the whole attention of the Mind; and in the end, run away with the nobler intellectual Powers; while they utterly defeat

A 2

defeat the most judicious, and best contrived system of Education.

These vagrant Powers of the Mind, in their natural, wild, and uncultivated ftate, are deplorably fubverfive of every good, and advantageous pursuit; yet when they are well directed, and properly employed; are the foundation of every improvement, they are the very groundwork, and materials which form every fine accomplishment our nature is capable of acquiring.

Happy then, and most exquifitely adapted to the great purpose it pursues, is the management of that Tutor, who makes ufe of fuch forms of inftruction as catch these wanton Wanderers unawares; infenfibly enlist them in the service of science; and bring them in, as auxiliary Forces, in the cause of Virtue, and Religion.

Thefe confiderations determined me to humour my inclination fo far, as to make you a prefent of this little Piece, in which the most interesting, and important of all subjects, The

Work

(5)

Work of God upon the Heart, is attempted in such a manner, as not to be unpleasing to the imagination. And when I further confider that this fubject is the darling of your foul, and nothing delights you fo much, as to hear of the Triumphs of all-conquering Grace, and the Beauties, and Glories of our Incarnate God; I am not without hopes, that the fubject will plead fome excufe for the attempt, and you will approve the defign, though you wish it had been executed by an abler pen.

I most fincerely deplore the loss which this undertaking has fuftained by the death of the late Reverend, learned, and pious Mr. Hervey, who approved the plan, and had promised to revise and correct the work. Atthe fame time I, with gratitude, recollect the favourable regard you had for it in its infantstate, when you took the Manufcript with you on a vifit to that Gentleman, and by your interest with him, procured the Enrichment of his Remarks, and Corrections fo far as it was then finished, and his promise for the rest.

I

(6)

I therefore am encouraged to hope, that your goodnefs will excufe the liberty I take, of putting my little Volume into your hands and I gladly lay hold on this opportunity of publishing to the World, the fhare I have in your friendship and efteem; of wishing you the most ample fuccefs in every branch of the two great Characters you so manifeftly adorn; and testifying the Sense I have of the many Obligations you have laid upon,

Dear Sir,

Your moft obedient

Humble Servant

PHILANTHROPOS.