(b). Preface

PREFACE. THE manuscript of this book was found, together with many similar papers, in the drawers of the late Francis Joule, Esq., of Stone in the county of Stafford, and was probably written about five and thirty or forty years ago. It was not directly prepared for the press ; indeed the disposition of the author was so retiring and self-diffident that he probably never contemplated the appearance of his thoughts in print . But although, from this cause, they are somewhat fragmentary, they nevertheless contain so much valuable exposition, and show so great a power of comparing spiritual things with spiritual, that it does not seem right to let them be lost.

Accordingly, at Mrs. Joule’s request, I have made such alterations and abbreviations as appeared to be absolutely necessary, and so send forth the book, hoping that by it one who has been sometime dead to this world may yet speak in it, and that-if it be the Master’s will-a little may, perchance, be added to the work which he did while still in the flesh.

G. H.P.